Critic Badge - An Exhibition

 HARRY POTTER PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION - Friday 2nd September

The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition is in Covent Garden tucked away behind the Transport Museum.  Very easy to overlook if you don't know that it's there, but if you glance through the doors, you can see the flying car from The Chamber of Secrets.  The first thing we learnt was the fact that this was one of fifteen and a half cars they used for the film.  One car was cut in half to get the cameras in!

The Exhibition covers all eight of the Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts and The Cursed Child musical.  Interspersed with props and costumes are clips from the films and interviews with the creative teams.

Daniel Radcliffe's Robes

Emma Watson's Deathly Hallows costume

There were less costumes than I was expecting, but as it's an exhibition of the photography I suppose it was fine.  Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort costume from Deathly Hallows was on display with an accompanying explanation describing how it faded over the course of the films, losing greens as each of his Horcruxes was destroyed.  Spoilers!

Gringott's money

Sample jars

I found the notes with the props fascinating.  The original money used in the first film was real metal, but cast and crew stole it for souvenirs!  It was plastic in the later films.  Again though, less props than I had expected.

Halfway through the exhibition is a green screen photo opportunity.  You pose on a broomstick, they supply you with a wand and two photos are taken, "facing forward" and "facing towards the camera".  Later you are shown the photos, either on the Quidditch pitch or in front of the Night Bus.  Then you can have a photo in The Ministry of Magic or in Newt Scamander's briefcase.  I might have spent too much money on those family photos... minor regrets!

The behind-the-scenes photos and facts were very informative, although probably a bit lost on the children if I'm being honest.  They did have a rather tricky trail of things to spot, so they were well entertained and did enjoy themselves.  Probably not suitable for young children though.

Hagrid and Harry in Diagon Alley

This isn't Robbie Coltrane, it's his body double, chosen for his height and ability to loom over the young Daniel Radcliff.  They explained that Hagrid's giant size is a combination of this body double, Robbie on small sets with small props and the children on large sets with large props.  Something I remember they did on The Hobbit to make Gandalf tower over the Hobbits and Dwarves.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

The children are now interested in watching the Fantastic Beasts films, so that's definitely a positive outcome from this trip.  I'd also like to take them to see The Cursed Child.  I shouldn't really say that their favourite part was the gift shop, but it was.  I spent a small fortune in there (sorry, Money Saver Badge 😬) We didn't visit the Butterbeer Bar, but that is open to anyone, you don't need an Exhibition ticket.

It was really quiet and I had expected crowds.  I would recommend visiting if you aren't a Muggle.

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