Giant has been on my ‘too see’ list for what feels like a lifetime. After opening at The Royal Court Theatre, transferring to the West End and winning best new play, best actor and supporting actor at the Oliviers earlier this year I had to see it before it closes on 2nd August.

The show looks at Roald Dahl with his life in flux, on the cusp of publishing The Witches and shortly after publishing a book review about the siege of West Beruit by the Israeli army which was deemed anti-Semitic. His publishers send staff member, Jessica Stone to represent the American arm of the publishing house and his good friend Tom Maschler to represent the UK office. They gather at Dahl’s house try to get him to retract his comments but what prevails is a war of words.

Giant by Mark Rosenblatt merges fact with fiction to make its point and does so brilliantly. The book review as read out by Jessica Stone are Dahl’s actual words as are his words later in the play that he uses to elaborate on the review. Whilst Jessica Stone is a fictional character she is used to great effect so that the audience gets a chance to explore Dahl’s views. The dialogue is nuanced and the debate lively but the hardest hitting parts are indeed Dahl’s own words, with a clear intake of breath from the audience at some points. They is no denying that as the play progresses Dahl’s statements grow more Anti-Semitic and what started out as undertones in his questioning becomes explicit with polarising language. The writing however not only makes the audience think about Dahl and his work but of the current conflict and the rise in anti-Semitism and parallels can clearly be drawn between the play and the news of today.

Rosenblatt’s Dahl however isn’t without nuance, he expresses his grief at the loss of his child and sympathises with Jessica Stone’s own troubles, finding common ground between them, which is what makes this play even more interesting, that he is not painted to be without redemption. Conversations are had between Dahl and Stone as to if she will continue to read his work to her son and the ability to separate the artist from their work and even if you can, should you? This once again echo’s of a current debate with J.K.Rowling and her transphobia v’s continuing to read and enjoy Harry Potter.

John Lithgow plays Dahl and it is easy to understand why he won the Olivier for this role. His characterisation is unflinching and he switches from making Jessica tone squirm to talking passionately about family in the blink of an eye and each moment as believable as the last. He utterly embodies Dahl and every move or wince on the face draws me further into his characterisation. Aya Cash plays Jessica Stone who after probing by Dahl admits that she is Jewish which is like a moth to a flame for Dahl. She enters seemingly tightly wound as Dahl picks at her to see what he can do to get her to speak her mind and her passionate speech towards him was brilliantly delivered. It is the scenes that focus on the debate between these 2 characters that have the highest dramatic stakes and are thrilling to watch.

Elliot Levy plays Tom Maschler, Dahl’s friend who is also Jewish but debates what it means to be Jewish and can never quite bring himself to renounce Dhal as anti-Semitic. He delivers moments of brevity in the play yet his character remains intriguing. Beth Eyre, previously the understudy for Felicity Crosland, plays the part full time for its closing few weeks. Crosland was Dahl’s mistress of 8 years and we see her in the show as his finance, attempting to keep the peace and to reason with Dahl, using everything at her disposal.

Giant is undoubtedly one of the most thought provoking nights at the theatre I have had for some time and even quietly shocking. A combination of of an incredibly probing script beautifully acted ensures that this will be a play I remember for some time.

Giant is currently on at The Harold Pinter Theatre until 2nd August. You can find out more and buy tickets here. You can also buy the script here.

If you like this review of Giant you might also like my review of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Stereophonic and Matilda.