Full cast announced for John Lithgow-led 'Giant' at Royal Court

Rachael Stirling, Romola Garai, Tessa Bonham Jones, and Richard Hope will join John Lithgow and Elliot Levey in Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play.

The full cast and creative team has been set for Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play Giant at the Royal Court in London. The play explores the antisemitism that has surrounded writer Roald Dahl's legacy.

Rachael Stirling (The Divine Mrs S) will star as Roald Dahl’s fiancée Felicity Crosland, with Romola Garai (Scoop, Atonement) as Dahl’s Jewish American publisher Jessie Stone, Tessa Bonham Jones (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as the Dahl family’s housekeeper Hallie, and Richard Hope (Hijack) as Dahl’s handyman Wally Saunders.

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.

Romola Garai said: "Giant is an extraordinary piece of new writing and I couldn’t be more honoured to be part of bringing this fascinating, knotty, complicated, and unafraid piece to audiences for the first time."

Rachael Stirling said: "I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the first staging of this extraordinary and incendiary new play."

Tessa Bonham Jones said: "I’m beyond excited to be working with Nick again and with these wonderful actors whom I've admired for so long. Mark's play is provocative and brilliant. It's a privilege to be performing it at the Royal Court, a bucket list theatre of mine ever since coming to the UK."

Richard Hope added: "Delighted to be back at the Royal Court theatre with a capital T!"

Directed by Nicholas Hytner and inspired by real events, Giant is set in 1983 when a public outburst of antisemitism in an article led to public outcry against Dahl before publication of his book The Witches.

Giant is designed by Olivier Award-winning theatre designer Bob Crowley, with lighting design by Anna Watson, and sound design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite.

Giant will begin previews from 20 September, running until 16 November.

Book Giant tickets on London Theatre

Photo credit: Rachael Stirling, Tessa Bonham Jones, Romola Garai, and Richard Hope. (Photos courtesy of production)