The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre and the Roald Dahl Story Company, today announce the world premiere of The BFG, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel. This magical new stage adaptation by Tom Wells (The Kitchen Sink, Jumpers for Goalposts) will open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon for a 10-week run over the festive season in 2025.

The production will be directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Daniel Evans (Quiz, South Pacific, Our Generation) in his directorial debut with the Company.

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 terrorise the world, 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.

RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “This inspiring story - about an unlikely alliance between an orphan, a giant and a queen - tells us that when we have the courage to make our dreams a reality, we can change the world. To be adapting Roald Dahl’s much-loved children’s novel for the stage in collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company and Chichester Festival Theatre is a dream come true for us. Tom Wells’ magical new adaptation builds upon the RSC’s longstanding commitment to make spectacular and moving theatre for family audiences - and we’re thrilled to be collaborating with an exceptional creative team to dream up an unforgettable theatrical experience which promises to be larger-than-life."

Roald Dahl Story Company Artistic Director Jenny Worton said: "Following the triumphant success of our first two stage shows, The Witches and The Enormous Crocodile, The BFG opens a magical new chapter for us at the Roald Dahl Story Company. Our dream is to bring mischievous joy to audiences of all ages through our growing family of live shows. After years of delicious inventing with Tom Wells, Daniel Evans, and the wider creative team, we are excited to share our passion for this iconic story with the rest of the world. Alongside Chichester Festival Theatre, we’ve created something full of imagination and heart, just as you’d expect from the world of Roald Dahl."

Chichester Festival Theatre Artistic Director Justin Audibert said: “We are thrilled to be co-producing The BFG with the RSC and Roald Dahl Story Company and are hugely looking forward to welcoming my predecessor as Artistic Director, Daniel Evans, back to Chichester. I know that our audiences – from the smallest to the largest ‘human beans’ – will love seeing Roald Dahl’s brilliantly imaginative and beloved creation come to life on stage.”

The BFG will play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 November 2025 – 31 January 2026 with Press Night on Tuesday 9 December 2025. Priority booking opens from 10am on Friday 31 January 2025, with public booking opening at 10am on Wednesday 12 February 2025.

The production will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from Monday 16 March – Sunday 12 April 2026. Booking will open in September 2025, with further details and the full schedule announced with CFT’s Winter season.

Joining Daniel and Tom on the creative team is Puppetry Designer and Director, Toby Olié; Set Designer, Vicki Mortimer; Costume Designer, Kinnetia Isidore; Lighting Designer, Zoe Spurr; Video Designer, Akhila Krishnan; Illusions, Chris Fisher; Composer, Oleta Haffner; Sound Designer, Carolyn Downing; Choreographer and Movement Director, Ira Mandela Siobhan; Puppetry Co-Designer, Daisy Beattie; and Senior Set Design Associate, Matt Hellyer. The Casting Director is Christopher Worrall CDG; and the Children’s Casting Director is Verity Naughton CDG.