Giant
WriterMark Rosenblatt
Premiere20 September 2024
PlaceRoyal Court Theatre. London
DirectorNicholas Hytner

Giant is a 2024 play written by Mark Rosenblatt. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2024 in a production starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl and won three Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.

Summary

It is a dramatisation of a period in author Roald Dahl's life after his 1983 literary review of the picture book God Cried about the siege of West Beirut by the Israeli army during the 1982 Lebanon War was deemed anti-Semitic.[1]

Production history

Off-West End (2024)

The play premiered at the Royal Court Theatre on 20 September 2024, running until 16 November. The production was directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by Bob Crowley with a cast including John Lithgow as Roald Dahl, Elliot Levey as Tom Maschler, Rachael Stirling as Felicity 'Liccy' Crosland, Tessa Bonham Jones as Hallie, Romola Garai as Jessie Stone, and Richard Hope as Wally Saunders.[2][3] The London production earned three 2025 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play alongside acting wins for Lithgow and Levey.

West End (2025)

The play transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End for 14 weeks from 26 April 2025, running until 2 August. Lithgow, Levey, and Stirling reprised their roles as Dahl, Maschler, and Crosland, respectively[4]

Broadway (2026)

The play transferred to Broadway in Spring 2026 with Lithgow reprising his role as Dahl. Elliot Levey, Rachael Stirling, and Aya Cash also reprised their respective roles on Broadway.[5] The show began previews on March 11, 2026 and officially opened on March 23 at the Music Box Theatre.[6][7][8] The Broadway production was directed by two-time Tony Award winner Nicholas Hytner.

Cinemas (2026)

From 19 November 2026, the Harold Pinter Theatre production which was filmed there in 2025, is released in 18 countries and over 900 cinemas worldwide, making it the first time a Royal Court Theatre production has been screened in cinemas.[9]

Cast and characters

CharacterLondonWest End[10]Broadway[11]
202420252026
Roald DahlJohn Lithgow
Tom MaschlerElliot Levey
Felicity 'Liccy' CroslandRachael Stirling
HallieTessa Bonham JonesStella Everett
Jessie StoneRomola GaraiAya Cash
Wally SaundersRichard HopeDavid Manis

Awards and nominations

London production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
rowspan="5", align=center| 2025Laurence Olivier AwardsBest New PlayMark Rosenblatt[12]
[13]
Best ActorJohn Lithgow
Best Actor in a Supporting RoleElliot Levey
Best Actress in a Supporting RoleRomola Garai
Best DirectorNicholas Hytner

Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2026Tony AwardsBest Play[14]
Best Leading Actor in a PlayJohn Lithgow
Best Featured Actress in a PlayAya Cash
Best Direction of a PlayNicholas Hytner
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Production of a Play[15]
Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding New Broadway Play[16]
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway PlayJohn Lithgow
Dorian AwardOutstanding Broadway Play[17][18][19]
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway PlayJohn Lithgow
Outstanding Script of a Broadway PlayMark Rosenblatt

References

  1. ^ Toby Lichtig (2024-10-11). "Drawing him out: A new play looking back at Roald Dahl's antisemitism". The Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  2. ^ Akbar, Arifa (2024-09-27). "Giant – exploration of Roald Dahl and antisemitism that speaks to our times". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  3. ^ Bano, Tim (2024-09-27). "Giant at the Royal Court: shocking, challenging and spectacularly good". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  4. ^ Newitt, Emmie. "Royal Court Theatre's production Giant announces West End transfer". Theatre News and Reviews. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  5. ^ Evans, Greg (2025-10-15). "'Giant' With John Lithgow As Roald Dahl Sets Broadway Opening Date, Cast Including Aya Cash". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  6. ^ Cristi, A. A. "John Lithgow To Star As Author Roald Dahl in Olivier-Winning Giant on Broadway". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
  7. ^ Evans, Greg (October 15, 2025). "'Giant' With John Lithgow As Roald Dahl Sets Broadway Opening Date, Cast Including Aya Cash". Deadline. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  8. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (October 15, 2025). "See Who's Joining John Lithgow's Roald Dahl in Giant on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  9. ^ "Giant - Trafalgar Releasing". Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Cast - Giant | Harold Pinter Theatre | Spring 2025". gianttheplay.com. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  11. ^ "Cast - Giant Giant on Broadway | 16 Weeks only!". gianttheplay.com. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  12. ^ Wiegand, Chris (4 March 2025). "Fiddler on the Roof up for 13 Olivier Awards and Romola Garai Nominated Twice in Same Category". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  13. ^ McIntosh, Steven (6 April 2025). "Olivier Awards 2025: Lesley Manville and John Lithgow secure top acting prizes". BBC News
  14. ^ "Tony Awards Nominations 2026: The Complete List". Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  15. ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
  16. ^ "Announcing the 2026 Outer Critics Circle winners: Full list". Broadway News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  17. ^ Abourizk, Michael (May 13, 2026). "Dorian Theater Awards announces 2026 nominees". Broadway News. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  18. ^ Mandell, Jonathan (May 13, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award Nominations: Schmigadoon, Lost Boys lead". New York Theater. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  19. ^ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween.". New York Theater. Retrieved June 1, 2026.