Rehearsal images have today been released for the Royal Court Theatre’s production of Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play Giant, directed by Nicholas Hytner (Straight Line Crazy, La Belle Sauvage). The play begins previews on Friday 20 September 2024 with opening night on Thursday 26 September 2024.
Tony and Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon, The Crown) stars as Roald Dahl with Olivier Award-winner Elliot Levey (Cold War, Patriots, Good) as Tom Maschler, Dahl’s British Jewish Publisher. Rachael Stirling (The Divine Mrs S) is Felicity Crosland, Roald Dahl’s fiancée; alongside Romola Garai (Scoop) as Jessie Stone, Dahl’s Jewish American publisher; Tessa Bonham Jones (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as Hallie, the Dahl family’s housekeeper; and Richard Hope (Hijack) as Wally Saunders, Dahl’s handyman.
“I wanted to put you bang in the picture. Appraise you of the difficulties. Because, in case you hadn’t noticed, he’s a human fucking boobytrap. And now, guess what, surprise surprise, boom!”
A world-famous children’s author under threat. A battle of wills in the wake of scandal. And one chance to make amends…
It’s the summer of 1983, The Witches is about to hit the shelves and Roald Dahl is making last-minute edits. But the outcry at his recent, explicitly antisemitic article won’t die down.
Across a single afternoon at his family home, and rocked by an unexpectedly explosive confrontation, Dahl is forced to choose: make a public apology or risk his name and reputation.
Inspired by real events, Giant explores with dark humour the difference between considered opinion and dangerous rhetoric offering a complicated portrait of a fiendishly charismatic icon.
Giant is designed by Olivier Award-winning theatre designer Bob Crowley with lighting design by Anna Watson, sound design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite and casting by Arthur Carrington. Completing the creative team is Bellaray Bertrand-Webb as Assistant Director and Jaimie Todd as Associate Designer.
Giant has been generously supported by a lead gift from Charles Holloway, OBE.
Giant is presented by the Royal Court Theatre in association with Brian & Dayna Lee, Stephanie Kramer & Nicole Kramer and Robyn Goodman & Josh Fiedler presents
