AAAAAAAAAAAAA MY FIRST COVER EVERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Surprisingly, i'm actually proud of this. The begining part is cringey as fuck but the rest was good. (i'm gonna regret this)
hi everyone!! i hope you are all staying safe and healthy! i am so excited to share my first ever cover on this account! here is me singing “better man” at a convention i went to over a year ago in late april of 2019. i sang this after auditioning to get into a talent competition, and i am so grateful that i was among the 8 acts that got selected to perform! i was only fourteen at the time, and so i was the youngest performer there. i was incredibly nervous to perform in front of over 500 people who were older than me, but i ended up getting third place! i know this isn’t a new video, and i would like to apologize for my guitar being difficult to hear due to the microphone not working very well, but i thought it would still be fun to share! please let me know what you think! it would mean the world to me if taylor saw this 🥺💗💫 i love you all <3
@taylorswift @taylornation i hope you guys like it!! 💗
Things I love about: Jordan Bamford as Scorpius Malfoy
Jordan is the first cover Scorpius for London cast 3 and I’ve been lucky enough to see him seven times. He has become my favourite Scorpius and brought so many delightful touches and facets to Scorpius that have made me love him as a character even more. The keywords that come to mind when I think of Jordan as Scorpius are: endearing, excitable, sweet and brave.
- From the moment Albus meets Scorpius on the train, you love him instantly. His voice is soft and sweet, he is socially awkward in the most endearing way. He shakes Albus’ hand a bit too enthusiastically for a little too long, you can definitely see that he hasn’t been around children his own age very much and desperately wants to make friends. When he says he’d rather be a Malfoy than “the son of the Dark Lord” he growls and holds his hands like claws. He is just so likeable and the definition of “adorkable”.
- During the flying class scene he is utterly delighted when his broomstick rises until he notices Albus’ is still on the ground. He forgets his own triumph immediately and moves to Albus’ side to reassure him and tell him not to listen to the teasing from the other kids. Right from the start he is a loyal, supportive friend.
- The scene in which he tells Albus that Astoria’s illness has got “the worst it could possibly get” is heartbreaking. He is so quiet and subdued, and his voice breaks as he wipes away tears, he can’t even look at Albus until he asks him to come to the funeral. He blurts this out as if worried that Albus will say no. Joe works perfectly with him in this scene, his Albus is so sincere and supportive and desperately wants to do anything that will help his friend.
- On the Hogwarts Express when Albus asks about the Triwizard tournament, he’s so excited to be able to share his knowledge. When called a geek he gasps and gushes “I thank you” as if it’s the best compliment he’s ever received. When Albus wants to climb up onto the train roof, he tries to stop him by sitting down on the trunks to block his way up. Once Albus pulls him away and climbs up, he is so frustrated that he stamps his feet and shakes his fists as if he can’t quite believe what Albus is getting them into, but he still knows he will follow because he’s his best friend, however frustrating, and he won’t let him do it alone.
- When the trolley witch spikes extend, Jordan shuffles right back into Albus’ lap in fear. Joe wraps his arms around him, Jordan holds his hands in front of his chest and they cling onto each other for dear life. This is one of the many times we see that Scorpius’ instinct when he is sad or scared is to go to Albus for comfort and physical reassurance.
- In St. Oswald’s, Scorpius is so out of his comfort zone. He doesn’t quite know where to look, everything makes him jump. Once again, he goes to Albus for reassurance, holding onto his arm and staying as close to his side as possible. When Amos takes his wand out, he says “come on mate” with his arms fully wrapped around Albus as he tries to drag him away, out of danger.
- When Albus and Delphi are practicing Expelliarmus, he looks so sad and conflicted as he watches on from the background. He likes to see Albus looking happy but he’s also feeling a little jealous and left out. After Delphi kisses Albus and then turns to leave, he fumbles with his Durmstrang robes, dropping them and having to quickly catch them and bundle them back up in his arms. As Delphi comes near, he offers her his cheek as if expecting a kiss too which she obviously ignores. He is so awkward around her and gets flustered and you can’t help but feel a little embarrassed for him. But, it really makes you feel for him and love him all the more.
- He’s so funny in the dragon task scene. He speaks to Albus and gestures with his hands as if he’s trying to plan what he will say. This turns out to be “Krum, Krum, you’re the one!” when Krum’s name is announced as Durmstrang Champion.
- His library scene is so intense. He’s usually so sweet and softly spoken that the sudden rush of anger is such a shock and has given me goosebumps every time. When he’d say “so Sad” he would get this hard, sarcastic edge to his voice and sounded completely different to his usual self. He would get right up in Albus’ face, to the point that sometimes Joe would back away from him fearfully. When he talked about Astoria still being dead in this new alternate reality I’ve seen him do it a couple of different ways – either so sad that his voice breaks or so angry that he can’t contain himself. I’ve seen him slam his hand down on the table and throw the time turner bag down onto it in his frustration. After he’s got everything off his chest, he clutches his hands over his face and just cries which I read as him being overwhelmed by his mixed feelings of anger, sadness and relief that his pent-up frustration has finally been aired. Also, as he usually goes to Albus for physical reassurance, but he can’t do that when it’s Albus that has caused him pain, he ends up clinging onto himself like he doesn’t know what to do with himself.
- In Myrtle’s bathroom, he is so proud of himself for the “engorgimpressed” line. When Myrtle leans close to him to say that she likes brave boys, he leans so far back in surprise that it looks like he might fall back out of the sink.
- After he emerges from the lake and the dementors appear, his instinct is to cover his mouth. He’s just found himself in a completely different world to the one he expected; his best friend doesn’t exist, the darkest wizard in history is alive and he’s all alone and yet he keeps his head enough to cover his mouth when he sees a Dementor. For me, this self-preservation instinct is so very Slytherin and gives a good insight into how well he’ll be able to blend in and survive in this world.
- In the dark AU with Draco in the Head of Magical Law Enforcement office what struck me was that he is so brave. After his initial shock to find his dad there and that his dad insists on being called sir, he becomes furious that his dad might be involved in killing muggles. He gets right up close to Draco, shouting and pointing in his face, incredibly brave considering this is not his Draco and this world could hold serious consequences for him. I’ve always found the fact that Scorpius only does the full Voldemort and Valour for Draco meaningful, but I’ve seen Jordan do it very slowly, full of significance which made that moment even more memorable for me by really highlighting the fact that that’s the only time he does it properly. On Sunday (12th May 2019), after leaving Draco’s office, he clutched his hands over his face and burst into tears, like he did after the library argument with Albus. Again, he doesn’t know what to do with all his conflicting feelings and Albus isn’t there to support and help him.
- When he arrives in the library, he is frantic and desperate, feverishly searching for answers so that he can try to find out why this version of events came to be and how he can try to fix it. Scorpius is so sweet and endearing, it’s almost impossible to imagine him as the Scorpion King. Seeing Craig cower away from him is especially jarring when you’re so enchanted by this sweet boy.
- When he asks Snape if he’s undercover now, he realises what he’s said and claps his hands over his mouth as if he wishes he could force the words back in. Snape feels like the answer to his problems and for a second he’s so excited that he gets a bit carried away and thinks before he speaks before remembering what a dangerous situation he’s in.
- His lake scene is so funny that he’s got applause every time I’ve seen it. His voice becomes screechy with excitement, he loses all his composure in his pure delight. When he sees Harry, he screams, high pitched and unable to contain his excitement and relief to see him again. When he sees Draco and says, “and Dad,” he suddenly becomes much more composed – he seems slightly embarrassed, aware that he’s made a scene and Malfoys are not supposed to make a scene. But the way he says “my dad” is so sweet and meaningful; he’s so relieved to be back with the dad he knows and loves rather than the Head of Magical Law Enforcement who is complicit in such atrocities.
- The scene in the dormitory is so funny. When he tries to wake Albus up, he leans out of his bed and nearly falls, having to put a hand out to catch himself. He is utterly giddy in this scene, so delighted to be back with his best friend, everything right with the world once again. For the “time to make time turning a thing of the past” line, he grabs Albus by the arm and pulls him over and delivers the line with their arms linked.
- In the owlery, when Albus says it felt important to send an owl, Jordan mouthed “why?”. Another little moment of Scorpius’ jealousy; he’s got his best friend back and he wants him all to himself.
- On the Quidditch Pitch, he is just so brave, strong and resilient. He stands steadfast despite being tortured. When Delphi pulls them over to turn time back to the maze task, he can’t stop looking at Craig’s body in disbelief.
- The maze is another scene in which he is just so brave. He’s already been tortured, knows she’ll do it again, that she would eventually kill him. But he won’t give up, his voice is hard and determined when he tells her they can defy her. For the Crucio while he’s on the ground, he does a sort of shoulder stand and throws his legs up in the air. He looks a bit like a ragdoll being thrown around and I don’t know how he does it, but it is very effective.
- In Godric’s Hollow, he is so excited to see Bathilda that he actually yells “SQUEAK!” in this squeaky excited voice. He’s giddy with pure nerdy delight and it’s absolutely adorable.
- The hug with Draco in Godric’s Hollow is so heart-warming. Jordan’s Scorpius throws himself into Draco’s arms with such enthusiasm that both feet leave the ground and there is a chorus of “aww”s from the audience, sometimes even cheering and applause. It is a beautiful moment, one that is clearly so important to them both. After the hug, Draco keeps a hand on Scorpius’ shoulder, now they are back together, he doesn’t want to lose him again and wants to be able to feel his presence and believe that he really is there. Jordan holds onto his arm and cuddles in against Draco’s shoulder. It is a beautiful thing to witness between them and gives me so much hope for the future of their relationship.
- On their final staircase scene, Scorpius is once again giddy with excitement, his squeaky screech of excitement coming out once again. He really thinks that Rose’s “Scorpion King” is a triumph and sinks contentedly back onto the stairs, fists raised in celebration. When Albus sits down on the stairs, Jordan sits on the next step down and Joe would rest his head on Jordan’s shoulder then Jordan would rest his head on top of Joe’s. It is such a sweet moment. When he leaves to go to Quidditch, he walks most of the way turning back to look at Albus, who stands on the stairs watching him leaves. Their eyes are locked until the last second, when Scorpius waves and finally turns away to leave. It felt like the perfect way to say goodbye to Scorpius.
Jordan has been an asset to the London company and a truly spectacular Scorpius. He is my favourite Scorpius and I will miss him greatly, but I am so grateful to have had seven shows in which to experience his sweet, soft, excitable, brave, funny, geeky and so damn lovable interpretation of Scorpius. His chemistry was Joe was perfect, they portrayed a Scorbus friendship that felt balanced and natural, they were jokey and tactile with each other and their friendship felt so real and like it had so much potential to blossom into more. It was truly a treat to watch them together.
I did a cover. Been wanting to do it for a while but didn’t have a decent recording device until I finally a good-quality camera recently. there are no lyrics, just ukulele! sorry if you hear me messing up, this was like the 36th take lol
One of my favourite things is seeing understudies perform. There’s nothing I love more than seeing new, unique interpretations of characters I know and love and seeing what new things I may learn about them in the process. I wanted to put into words some of the things I’ve loved most about cast 3’s first cover Harry, Tom Peters.
- He is so different to Jamie Ballard. His Harry is much more emotionally reserved, all of his trauma has been internalised. He is stoic, practical, purposeful, always on the move, always doing. I’ve affectionately nicknamed him “Power Stance Potter” due to the way he flicks back his robes and stands, hands on hips, ready for action.
- On platform 9 ¾, he doesn’t quite know how to show his affection, the goodbye with Albus is awkward, showing right from the word go that there is a distance between them that doesn’t exist between Harry with James or Lily. I’ve seen them end up awkwardly waving to each other or settling on a handshake because a hug is a bridge too far.
- Despite being much more reserved, he still has a goofy side which becomes much more apparent around Ron and Hermione. After tidying the papers on his desk, he throws his wand in the air and catches it, showboating. He seems so much comfortable and natural around them which is yet another contrast to him with Albus.
- In the blanket scene he is so sincere and earnest that it almost hurts. He’s genuinely trying to reach out to his son. Being more reserved, moments of strong emotion pack a real punch. The line about wishing Albus weren’t his son bursts out of him, sudden and intense, like a dam bursting and it made me flinch every single time I saw it.
- He is my favourite polyjuiced Scorpius that I have seen. Power Stance Potter is gone and replaced by a giddy, awkward Scorpius. He stands awkwardly, knees turned in, his arms flail, he is full of pure, geeky delight when he sees all the books on the shelves. He is funny and endearing and I absolutely adored him.
- During the scene with polyjuiced Albus blocking Hermione’s office, Tom’s Harry watches on in complete bewilderment. He is stood stock still, unusual for a Harry who is usually always on the move and when he leaves the stage, he moves so slowly, eyes fixed on Ron as if he’s seen him in an entire new light and can’t quite believe what he’s just witnessed.
- In the hospital wing, he is once again so sincere, genuinely trying to understand why Albus ran away. He still has his funny moments – when giving Albus the chocolate, he immediately snatches it back to help himself – but the focus of the scene is his need to understand. When Harry becomes fixated on Scorpius as the dark cloud you can see his desperation; blaming Scorpius gives him something tangible, something he can try to ‘fix’, so he latches onto that idea. Tom’s Harry is all about doing and he needs something practical that he can change or work on to try and fix their relationship.
- The duel is hilarious, Tom’s Harry really enjoys himself. He loves finally having an excuse to jinx Draco. He brandishes his wand so dramatically and I love that touch of flair when he’s usually so reserved; this is Harry in his element. When he runs to throw the chair at Draco, he abandons magical means entirely and puts his wand between his teeth to free up his hands. Seeing him freeze on the spot, wand between his teeth as Ginny catches them duelling is such a funny moment.
- The scene in Harry’s office with Dumbledore’s portrait is another scene with a huge emotional impact. When he yells “Years!” at Dumbledore, he hits the table, hard. It made me flinch every time to see that sudden burst of anger, to see the usually stoic Harry suddenly lose control of his emotions. Then, telling Dumbledore that he loved him too is a beautiful moment of vulnerability.
- My favourite scene of Tom’s is without a doubt the ruined blanket/something written scene. It’s nothing short of exceptional. The pain in his voice when he asks, “how many people have to die for the boy who lived?” is quiet but raw and intense, the internalised trauma resurfacing. When he realises the blanket is ruined, he is so distraught that he can’t even bring himself to look at it. Once they realise that Albus has left them a message, his despair becomes pure unadulterated glee. Finally, there is something he can do. His energy in that scene is so infectious and fills you with excitement, you can’t wait to go on this next adventure with him.
- The graveyard scene at the end is always a favourite, even though I am also sad that it’s nearly over. I sound like a broken record at this point, but Tom’s Harry is just so sincere and earnest in his approach to Albus. He’s trying so hard and it clearly means so much to him that their relationship improves. Seeing him open up to Albus and show his vulnerability, like he does with Ginny, Ron and Hermione is such a beautiful thing. His Harry goes on such a journey, by the end of the play he has learned and grown so much and that leaves me feeling so full of hope.
- His Harry still doesn’t quite know how to be affectionate. He seems hesitant, like he doesn’t want to overstep and ruin the progress they have made. This leaves Albus free to lead the way and watching Albus initiate their hug cuts such a contrast to their awkward wave or handshake on Platform 9 ¾ at the start of the play. It feels like the story has come full circle and it is truly so satisfying, poignant and hopeful.
I am so grateful to have seen him play Harry four times and to have been there to support him for his last scheduled show as Harry. That show was so special, and I will treasure my memories of that day forever. (Though if the amount I cried that day is anything to go by, I am so not ready for cast change!)
