By Mark Shenton
27 Oct 2009

Potted Potter, a comic parody of the Harry Potter novels that condenses all seven books into a 70-minute show that is billed in publicity materials as "the Unauthorised Harry Experience", is to return to the West End's Trafalgar Studios 2 for its third consecutive Christmas season. It will begin performances Dec. 8 (prior to an official opening Dec. 9), for a run through Jan. 2.

Created by Dan and Jeff—Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner–they originally "potted" some of the creations from J.K Rowling's world when they were asked to create five-minute performance for a bookshop to coincide with the launch of the sixth book in 2005. Regular appearances as storytellers on BBC's kids programme "Blue Peter" followed, and they have now been back on BBC1 for the last 12 months as CBBC presenters.

The show has previously enjoyed Christmas runs at the Trafalgar Studios 2 in 2007-8 and 2008-9. It has also been seen on the Edinburgh Fringe, and has also sold out theatres in Australia and New Zealand.

According to press materials, the show features "endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props, a generous helping of Hogwarts magic and the audience, as everyone is invited to join in with a real life game of Quidditch!" It is described as being "recommended for muggles from the age of six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed)."

Clarkson and Turner's second show, Potted Pirates, enjoyed a sell-out premiere in Edinburgh in 2008 and is now touring nationally. Potted Pirates co-writer and director, Richard Hurst directs this edition of Potted Potter (it was originally directed by Dominic Knutton). His other family shows include Silly Billy Bum Breath and Silly Billy Bum Breath Strikes Back.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0870 060 6632, or visit www.ambassadortickets.com