The BFG
Chichester Festival Theatre
Adapted by Tom Wells
This magical stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s well-loved story The BFG is a real team effort bringing together not only an incredible cast but is also packed full of technical brilliance and remarkably skilful puppetry.
Having played to nearly 75,000 people in Stratford this co-production between the Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and the Singapore Repertory Theatre, is now running at Chichester until 11th April and then moving on to Singapore.
Director Daniel Evans (co-Artistic Director at the RSC and formerly at CFT) and Puppetry Designer/Director Toby Olie have worked wonders right from the start as the characters are brought vividly to life.
The tale begins when orphan Sophie is whisked away by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country where giants guzzle norphans. However, the Big Friendly Giant lives on a diet of snozzcumbers instead of ‘beans’ and together the two of them work out a plan to stop the human eating giants by engaging HRH The Queen of England.
A simple set allows for plenty of scope for Dahl’s whimsical land, the inside of Buckingham Palace and the antics of the giant and mini puppets.
At the heart of the show is John Leader who gives a heartfelt rendition of the gentle dream catching giant. Tender and awkward he brings great charm to the character. Alongside him, and on this occasion, it was Martha Bailey Vine playing the spirited, outspoken Sophie, who gives an excellent and natural portrayal of the feisty orphan. The double act of Philip Labey and Luke Sumner as the two captains is superb with great chemistry and comic timing between the two of them. Strong support too from the charismatic Sargon Yelda as Tibbs the butler.
An immensely enjoyable production receiving a well-deserved standing ovation and leaves a lingering feeling of hope, redemption and the power of dreams.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Jill Lawrie