Royal Court Theatre announces cast for Giant by Mark Rosenblatt

The Royal Court Theatre has today announced the full cast and creative team for the world premiere of Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play Giant, directed by Nicholas Hytner (Straight Line Crazy, La Belle Sauvage). The play will begin previews from Friday 20 September 2024 with opening night on Thursday 26 September 2024.

Rachael Stirling (The Divine Mrs S) will star as 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. They join Tony and Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon, The Crown) who will play Roald Dahl and Olivier Award-winner Elliot Levey (Cold War, Patriots, Good) as Tom Maschler, Dahl’s British Jewish Publisher. 

“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.

To read the full press release, see here.