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 God Cried, a picture book about the siege of West Beirut by the Israeli army during the 1982 Lebanon War, was deemed antisemitic.
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. 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.
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. The show began previews on March 11, 2026 and officially opened on March 23 at the Music Box Theatre. The Broadway production was directed by two-time Tony Award winner Nicholas Hytner.
Theatrical screening (2026) On 19 November 2026, the Harold Pinter Theatre version of the production will be released in 18 countries and over 900 cinemas worldwide. It was filmed in 2025, and marks the first time a Royal Court Theatre production will be screened theatrically.
Cast and characters +CharacterLondonWest EndBroadway202420252026 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 Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref. 2025 Laurence Olivier Awards Best New Play Mark Rosenblatt Best Actor John Lithgow Best Actor in a Supporting Role Elliot Levey Best Actress in a Supporting Role Romola Garai Best Director Nicholas Hytner WhatsOnStage Awards Best New Play Best Supporting Performer in a Play Romola Garai
Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.2026 Tony Awards Best Play Best Leading Actor in a Play John Lithgow Best Featured Actress in a Play Aya Cash Best Direction of a Play Nicholas Hytner Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play John Lithgow Drama League AwardsOutstanding Production of a Play Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Play Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play John Lithgow Dorian Awards Outstanding Broadway Play Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Play John Lithgow Outstanding Script of a Broadway Play Mark Rosenblatt
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