A peep into the RSC's BFG rehearsals!
- ann-evans
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre, Singapore Repertory Theatre - Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, and Roald Dahl Story Company production. Adapted by Tom Wells. Dramaturgy and additional material by Jenny Worton. Director Daniel Evans. The BFG will play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 November 2025 – 7 February 2026. Then at the Chichester Festival Theatre 9 March – 11 April 2026. The production then transfers to Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre for a limited run from 22 April 2026.
Preview
‘Once you is knowing dreams is real… you is seeing them very easily’
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre, Singapore Repertory Theatre - Esplanade Theatres on the Bay and the Roald Dahl Story Company have released first-look images of the world stage premiere of The BFG in rehearsals.
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel, this darkly comic and mischievous new stage adaptation by Tom Wells (The Kitchen Sink, Jumpers for Goalposts) with dramaturgy and additional material by Jenny Worton will open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon for a 11-week run over the festive season from 25 November 2025 – Saturday 7 February 2026 with Press Night on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
The production will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from Monday 9 March – Saturday 11 April 2026, after which it will transfer to Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre for a limited run from Wednesday 22 April 2026, in a new co-producing partnership with Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
The full cast includes John Leader in the title role of the BFG and, preparing to terrify chiddlers everywhere, Richard Riddell plays the norphan-guzzling giant Bloodbottler. They are joined by Martha Bailey Vine, Elsie Laslett and Ellemie Shivers in the role of Sophie, with Charlotte Jones, Maisy Lee, and Uma Patel in the role of Kimberley.
Heading up the royal household, Helena Lymbery plays The Queen, with Sargon Yelda as Tibbs the Butler. They are joined by the Chiefs, Philip Labey and Luke Sumner, in the roles of Captain Smith and Captain Frith respectively.
Completing the cast are performers Parkey Abeyratne, J.R. Ballantyne, Sonya Cullingford, Ailsa Dalling, Fred Davis, Elisa de Grey, Lottie Johnson, Shaun McCourt, Corey Mitchell, Aki Nakagawa, Onioluwa Taiwo and Ben Thompson, who together will bring the world of The BFG to life on stage.
One extraordinary night, a young orphan named Sophie is snatched by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country.
There she learns that human-eating giants are guzzling 'norphans' the world over. But she soon discovers that her new friend, the BFG, is different – he's a dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching gentle soul who refuses to eat humans.
While other giants wreak havoc, the BFG ignites Sophie's imagination, and they devise a daring plan to save children everywhere. In the end, the smallest human bean and the gentlest giant prove that a dream can change the world.
Tickets for The BFG at the RSC are available from £16. Discounts are available for Over 65s, Disabled People and Carers, Families, UK School and College Groups and Groups of 10 or more. Terms and conditions apply. See the website rsc.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01789 331111 for more details and to buy tickets.
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