Giant

Giant photos

Giant description

Giant transfers to the West End for spring, a powerful piece of drama with an exceptional cast and creative team. John Lithgow (Third Rock From The Sun, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Crown) reprises his leading role as Roald Dahl, based on a true story about a famously antisemitic book review that caused an unholy scandal.

The dark side of the storyteller

Roald Dahl's stories have been turned into smash hit musicals adored by millions. Matilda, Willy Wonka, The Witches and more have lit up the West End stage. But the author was a complex character whose cruel views hurt a lot of people. This is the side of Dahl the play deals with and it is powerful stuff, based on true events. The premiere sold out. We expect the same of this run.

The action takes place in summer 1983. The subject of a growing outcry thanks to a review of a book condemning the 1982 West Beirut siege, Dahl is faced with a stark choice: apologise or lose everything. Black humour and razor sharp insight make this a treat of a play, exploring what happens when a dangerously charismatic person doesn't think through the consequences of their words and doesn't appreciate the difference between opinion and rhetoric.

The cast, creative team and producers

US actor and Golden Globe winner John Lithgow (Third Rock From The Sun, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Crown) reprises his sell-out role as Dahl, described as 'magnificent'. Olivier Award-winning Elliot Levey (Cold War, Patriots, Good) returns as Tom Maschler, Rachael Stirling (The Divine Mrs S) as Felicity Crosland and Richard Hope (Hijack) as Wally Saunders.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner (Straight Line Crazy, La Belle Sauvage). Bob Crowley is the Designer, Anna Watson is the Lighting Designer, Alexandra Faye Braithwaite is the Sound Designer and Arthur Carrington is the Casting Director. Giant is produced in the West End by Brian and Dayna Lee, Stephanie Kramer and Nicole Kramer, Josh Fiedler, and Robyn Goodman.

Playing at Harold Pinter Theatre (venue info)