Giant at Royal Court Confronts Roald Dahl's Antisemitism

Mark Rosenblatt's debut play, directed by Nicholas Hytner, tackles the controversial views of the beloved children's author with a nuanced and challenging narrative.

The play is set in 1983 during an emergency meeting at Roald Dahl's house following his antisemitic book review of 'God Cried'.
John Lithgow stars as Dahl, portraying his charm and unrepentant antisemitism, while Elliot Levey and Romola Garai play his conflicted publishers.
Rosenblatt's script mixes fact and fiction, exploring Dahl's complex character and his controversial views on Israel and Jewish people.
The production addresses broader themes such as the separation of art from the artist, complicity, and the protection of powerful figures.
Performed at the Royal Court Theatre, the play gains additional resonance due to the venue's own history with antisemitism controversies.