The Royal Shakespeare Company exploited John Leader to play the title role in his next adaptation on stage of “The BFG” by Roald Dahl.
Production, adapted by Tom Wells (“The Kitchen Sink”, “Juiners for Goal Posts”), represents a collaboration between the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Chichester Festival Theater and the Roald Dahl Story Company.
The production follows Sophie, a young orphan who is taken to Giant Country by the Grand Giant Friendly, where she discovers that other giants terrorize children from around the world. Together, Sophie and the BFG develop a plan to stop the eating giants of the man and save children everywhere. The story has already been adapted by Steven Spielberg as a film in 2016.
Leader, which appeared before with the Royal Shakespeare Company in “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “The School for Scandal” in 2024, brings large theatrical references to this role. His curriculum vitae includes “Wuthering Heights”, “Peter Pan” and “War Horse” at the National Theater, “A Monster calls” to the old Vic and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at the Bridge Theater.
“I am absolutely delighted to play such an emblematic character which means so many people,” said the leader. “Everyone has their own photo of the BFG, so it’s really exciting (and a little surreal!) To help him give life on stage.”
The artistic director of Royal Shakespeare Company, Daniel Evans, who directs production, described the casting process “a giant business in many ways”, noting that finding the right actor was “an essential piece of the puzzle”.
“John Leader brings immense warmth, generosity and humility to the role – all the essential qualities for our BFG,” added Evans. “He also has a brilliant and lively imagination. John will work alongside a team highly qualified as puppeteers as part of a casting of eighteen. ”
The creative team includes the designer and director of puppets Toby Olié, the designer of decor Vicki Mortimer, the costume designer Kinnetia Isidore, the lighting designer Zoe Spurr, the video designer Akhila Krishnan, the designer of illusions Chris Fisher and the director of the creator Ira Mandela Siobhan.
The show will bow to the Royal Shakespeare Theater of Stratford-Upon-Avon for a 10-week race from November 25, 2025 to January 31, 2026, before transferring to the Chichester Theater Festival on March 9-April 12, 2026.
