About the Show

John Lithgow stars as Roald Dahl facing a career-defining reckoning in this multi-Olivier Award-winning play.

It’s the summer of 1983, and a beloved children’s author is making final edits to his latest book while controversy swirls around him. An inflammatory article he recently wrote has sparked widespread outrage, leaving his reputation hanging by a thread. Over the course of a tense afternoon at his family home, an unexpected confrontation forces him to grapple with the fallout of his words. Caught between making a public apology or risking his legacy, he faces a battle of principles and pride.

Inspired by true events, Mark Rosenblatt’s West End debut play examines the fine line between free expression and harmful rhetoric, blending sharp humor with moral tension.

Following a critically acclaimed premiere at the Royal Court in 2024, Giant achieved significant recognition at the 2025 Olivier Awards, securing three awards: Best New Play for Mark Rosenblatt, Best Actor for John Lithgow's portrayal of Dahl, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Elliot Levey's depiction of Tom Maschler.

This production is recommended for ages 14+.

Critic Reviews (6)

"John Lithgow gives a career-best performance in this blisteringly topical colossus of a play"
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"It deserves every ounce of praise. Giant is timely. It’s sophisticated. It’s complex. It’s nuanced. It’s everything an excellent play should be."
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"Led by a career-best performance from John Lithgow, Nicholas Hytner’s superbly acted production doesn’t make insistent early attempts to woo us."
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"I think I have run out of superlatives to describe Lithgow’s performance. He gives us a vain elderly gent, racked by physical pain and memories of family tragedy, whom we both pity and revile."
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