Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has unveiled an early look at the robes Hogwarts students will be wearing in the upcoming stage play.

The show’s official Twitter account sent out a photo of “early” sketches for the new Hogwarts robes designed by Katrina Lindsay. Interestingly, the robes appear to evolve over the years. This is unlike what happened in the books or the movies, where there were virtually no changes other than Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuaron deciding that students should be wearing their robes less frequently.

Article Continues Below

The descriptions are tough to make out, but here’s what a few of them appear to say (thanks to Snitch Seeker for whipping out the magnifying glass to figure ’em out):

Top left: Traditional Cloak

Top second from left: Hogwarts First Year

Top third from left: Hogwarts Emoji Robe

Top fourth from left: Hogwarts Ceremonial Surcote Robe

Top fourth from right: Ceremonial Surcote Over Hogwarts Robe

Top third from right: Hogwarts Mid-School Robe

Top second from right: Hogwarts Sixth Form Robe

Top right: Sixth Form Robe, Prefect Surcote

A couple of things to consider here:

Yeah, not sure what that “emoji robe” is about. It looks like it has a lot of buttons on it — we doubt the emoji keyboard has suddenly come to Hogwarts in the years since Deathly Hallows. But why would a student wear so many pins?

The Hogwarts robes appear to get shorter cuts as the students progress through their education. We don’t know the official reason why, but if I were to guess, I’d bet one reason is to help playgoers tell the differences in the ages of the students. The varying details in all the different robes also give us more to look at as scenes play out in front of us.

Do these robes hint at prominent types of characters appearing during the play? Like a prominent sixth year? A prominent sixth year Prefect? A scene involving a big event at Hogwarts (re: that “ceremonial” robe)? Also, not exactly a big surprise, but these robes confirm that The Cursed Child will be spending a good amount of time at Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins preview performances in London next month, and the play officially launches in July. One day after the play opens, The Cursed Child script book will be released worldwide.

The story primarily follows Harry and his son Albus Severus. “It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children,” reads the official synopsis. “While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.”

How do you feel about the Hogwarts robe designs in ‘The Cursed Child’?