15 KidZania Professional Members Interview Stage Play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"!

KCJ GROUP Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Michinari Enkura), which plans and operates KidZania, a facility for children to experience occupations and society, is holding a special collaboration project with the stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of KidZania's arrival in Japan on October 5, 2026. As part of this initiative, on June 21, 2026, a special program "Challenge to Interview the Stage" (hereinafter referred to as "this event"), exclusively for members of "KidZania Professional," KidZania's paid membership service, was held at TBS Akasaka ACT Theater, allowing children to interview professionals involved in the stage play.

Fifteen children, selected by lottery, became "child reporters." After closely examining stage props displayed in the theater lobby, they participated in a guest talk and Q&A session, directly interviewing Kazushi Kubo, who plays Scorpius Malfoy, and representatives from TBS and Horipro about the work of actors, character development, and the jobs of the staff who support the stage.

Kazushi Kubo (center) and child reporters who prepared questions for the guest.

"Stage Work" Interviewed by Child Reporters

- Introducing Stage Work from Different Perspectives: Actors, Promotion, and Stage Production

At the event, three guests first introduced their respective jobs and their paths to becoming involved in the stage play.

Mr. Kubo recalled the joy of being chosen for an important role through an audition, while simultaneously feeling anxiety and responsibility, saying, "Could I do it?" He spoke about the mindset of an actor taking on a role. The TBS representative, who had experience in musicals during junior and senior high school, is in charge of promotion in the stage-related department at TBS, a position they desired since joining the company. They explained their work in delivering the production to the audience, including collaborations with TV programs and planning to ensure audience enjoyment at the theater. The Horipro representative shared that they are involved in a wide range of duties related to stage productions in Horipro's stage department, including production, promotion, and group sales.

Scene from the guest talk. Child reporters asking questions to the guest. Mr. Kubo demonstrates a move when asked, "What is difficult about waving a wand?"

- A Stage That Moves with Over 100 People in Every Performance: Interviewing Backstage Coordination and Teamwork

During the Q&A session for child reporters following the guest talk, questions delved into backstage work, such as "What are the most challenging jobs behind the scenes?" and "What is important to you all in creating a stage production?" The child reporters interviewed guests from different positions, including actors, promotion, and production, to understand the mechanics of a stage performance.

Representatives from TBS and Horipro explained that stage work extends beyond the performance itself, encompassing public relations to make the audience aware of the production and ensuring a smooth experience at the theater. They also highlighted the importance of considering the health and condition of all cast and staff, as over 100 people collaborate for extended periods during each performance, and that individuals with specialized skills work together to support the stage. They commented, "It's enjoyable, but also challenging."

Mr. Kubo explained that the team of cast and staff is called the "company" and that because the absence of any single person can affect the performance, mutual support and assistance are crucial. He also mentioned that daily communication, such as greeting each other with a smile in the morning, is an essential part of creating the stage.

- Specific Questions About Actor's Work: Role Preparation, Performance, and Safety

Questions about the work of actors continued, including, "What do you do when you get nervous?" "What kind of practice do you do to get into character?" and "What 'magic words' do you tell yourself to perform confidently in front of a large audience?" Mr. Kubo responded that the words he tells himself are "As always, and more than usual." He values believing in the accumulated efforts from rehearsals and performances, and living fully as the character without overexerting himself. For role preparation, he emphasized the importance of repeated "dialogues with the character" in his mind, and during performances, not only trusting himself but also his co-stars and relying on colleagues when in trouble. Furthermore, he discussed physical training for stable performance on the moving grand staircase, practicing wand movements, lines, and coordinating jumps from high places, as well as preparations for physical conditioning and safety.

- Children Reporters' Unique Perspectives on Magical Scenes and Stage Sets

When asked by the child reporters about their favorite magical scenes, the TBS representative chose the scene where a person disappears in a phone booth, the Horipro representative selected the scene where papers on a desk tidy themselves up, and Mr. Kubo cited the scene where characters transform using Polyjuice Potion. Mr. Kubo mentioned that he watches scenes even when he is not on stage, and shared the fun from the perspective of a performer.

Finally, Mr. Kubo delivered a message to the children, and a commemorative photo was taken with all the child reporters, concluding the event.

Voices of Participating Children

In individual interviews after the event, participating children shared their thoughts, such as, "I'm involved in musicals, so I had many things I wanted to ask and it was difficult to narrow it down. I asked about what to do when nervous because I thought it would be useful for my own role," and "I was very happy to be able to talk to them directly, as there aren't many opportunities to do so normally."

Children with experience speaking in front of crowds, such as in student council, expressed a desire to "experience the performer's side before interviewing as a reporter." They participated in this event after experiencing being a stage actor in KidZania Tokyo's "Theater" pavilion activity, "Challenge to Stage Work! ~Let's Play a 'Wizard'~." They responded with smiles, reflecting on the event, saying, "I was very nervous today."

A commemorative photo of Mr. Kubo and the 15 child reporters.

Event Overview

KidZania Tokyo Limited-Time Activity "Challenge to Stage Work! ~Let's Play a 'Wizard'~"

As a collaboration project with the stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," KidZania Tokyo is offering a limited-time activity called "Theater." Children, as "stage actors," learn about the production and the work of actors, and after stretching, vocal exercises, casting, and rehearsals, they perform a scene from the stage play featuring Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy.

About the Stage Play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"

The stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is the eighth story in the "Harry Potter" series, written for the stage by J.K. Rowling, the author of the "Harry Potter" novels, along with John Tiffany and Jack Thorne. It depicts a new adventure story set 19 years after the final novel, focusing on the relationship between Harry Potter, now a father at 37, and his son Albus. Since its premiere in London in July 2016, it has received numerous theater awards worldwide and has been highly acclaimed, including the Special Jury Prize at the 30th Yomiuri Theater Awards and the 48th Kikuta Kazuo Theater Award in Japan.

The Tokyo production has surpassed 1.4 million total audience members and achieved 1,400 performances. The final performance is scheduled for December 27, 2026. https://www.harrypotter-stage.jp/

About KCJ GROUP / KidZania Japan

KCJ GROUP plans and operates "KidZania Tokyo" (opened October 2006), "KidZania Koshien" (opened March 2009), and "KidZania Fukuoka" (opened July 2022), which are facilities for children aged 3 to 15 to experience occupations and society. KidZania features a city scaled down to about two-thirds of real life, with pavilions set up by real companies where children can experience various jobs and services. The concept of KidZania is "Edutainment," a blend of "Education" and "Entertainment." It is a "city where children are the main characters," where they can challenge their favorite jobs and learn about the workings of society while having fun.