Fifteen years ago Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner were given the task of entertaining the masses as they waited at a bookstore in London to buy a copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The penultimate book in the much-loved series saw people queueing from midnight at the store. 

So, the duo used their knowledge of the world to create Potted Potter. 

“Myself and Jeff, who I created the show with, we came up with this idea of doing five books in five minutes, while the crowds were waiting to give them a recap before they got their hands on the sixth book,” Dan said. 

Then it grew into so much more – they expanded it to be a 70-minute stage show which has since toured the world, entertaining audiences across Australia, the UK and the US. 

“We took it to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland where I remember we played in a Church Hall for 50 people and we did that for a summer,” Dan said.

“We then added in the sixth book and it became quite popular so by the end of that a producer had asked us to develop a tour with him so we started touring the UK, we added in the seventh book and we somehow ended up in the West End in London.”

While playing at the West End someone from America saw the show which kickstarted an American tour. 

From there they came to Australia and the rest is history. 

They can’t believe the journey they’ve been on.

“We were just fans who adored Harry Potter,” Dan said.

“We loved the books and loved what they all stood for and enjoyed the films and we were like: ‘oh well this is a lot of fun, we get to pretend to be wizards for a living’ and never in our wildest dreams thought it would be here.

“There’s so many pinch us we must be dreaming moments – we are waiting for immigration to realise that we are just two mates mucking around and send us back home.”

The show is perfect for Potter fans but is also suitable for those who have no idea about the series. 

“So Potted Potter attempts to tell all seven Harry Potter books in 70 minutes,” Dan said.

“It’s a two-man show with one guy playing Harry Potter which leaves me with to play all 360 other characters. 

“So I play everyone from Ron and Dumbledore to he who shall not be named and I even do a great Hermione.

“As a six-foot five-man that’s worth the ticket price alone,” he added with a laugh. 

“And then, within all this chaos we also have the first-ever live game of theatre quidditch. 

“So a lot happens in 70 minutes.”

In just a few days, Newcastle will be treated to this “happy mess”. 

From Friday 8 to Sunday 10 April Potted Potter will stop in at Civic Theatre. 

The cast will perform five shows, they hope as many people as possible come along. 

“If you are a Harry Potter fan you need to be there,” Dan said.

“We would love to meet you and we would love you to meet like-minded Potter fans. 

“If you don’t know anything about Harry Potter, where have you been?

“I mean we’ve had a two-year lockdown that was long enough to read all of the books but this is a great introduction into the world. 

“It is a parody and there are so many other pop culture references and jokes about pop stars and different films.

“It’s literally just everybody getting together and having a really good laugh for 70 minutes.

“We hope you come out of the theatre feeling good.”

Dan says it’s a dream to be returning to the stage after two difficult years. 

“I think its great that we can finally come back in this way and celebrate and have fun again together,” he said.

 “I think everybody missed each other and it’s just really nice to be back together again.”

Despite being a bit sunburnt, Dan is loving his second visit to Australia and is looking forward to coming to Newcastle – it’ll be his first time here. 

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