Full casting revealed as THE BFG heads to Singapore
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre, the Roald Dahl Story Company has announced full casting for the world stage premiere of Tom Wells’ The BFG, which will also visit Singapore’s Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Spring 2026 following its UK stage premiere in Stratford-upon-Avon and run in Chichester.
Opening in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 25 November 2025 – Saturday 7 February 2026, the production will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from 9 March – 11 April 2026, after which it will transfer to Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre for a limited run from 22 April 2026, in a new co-producing partnership with Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “We are thrilled to be working with Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay to share this exhilarating stage adaptation with audiences here in the UK and across the globe. This latest announcement is one of a number of exciting international collaborations currently in development at the RSC, as we continue to explore new opportunities to share our work.
“Working alongside our co-producers, the Roald Dahl Story Company and Chichester Festival Theatre, this new production has been years in the making, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with such an exceptional creative team to dream up an unforgettable, larger-than-life, theatrical experience."
Preparing to terrify chiddlers everywhere is Richard Riddell as the norphan-guzzling giant Bloodbottler, who joins the previously announced John Leader as the BFG alongside Martha Bailey Vine, Elsie Laslett and Ellemie Shivers in the role of Sophie who is joined by her best friend from the orphanage, Kimberley, played by Charlotte Jones, Maisy Lee, and Uma Patel.
Helping run the Royal household alongside Helena Lymbery as The Queen is Sargon Yelda as Tibbs the Butler. He will be joined by the Chiefs, Philip Labey and Luke Sumner, in the roles of Captain Smith and Captain Frith respectively.
Completing the cast are performers Parkey Abeyratne, J.R. Ballantyne, Sonya Cullingford, Ailsa Dalling, Fred Davis, Elisa de Grey, Lottie Johnson, Shaun McCourt, Corey Mitchell, Aki Nakagawa, Onioluwa Taiwo and Ben Thompson, who together will bring the world of The BFG to life on stage.
Director Daniel Evans added: “After many months of invention, workshops and creative conversations, it feels incredible to be sharing a rehearsal room with such a talented company of actors as we prepare to bring Tom Wells’ bold and innovative new version of The BFG to life on stage. 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! We can’t wait to share the show with audiences of all ages this festive season and beyond.”
The creative team also includes puppetry designer and director Toby Olié, set designer Vicki Mortimer, costume designer Kinnetia Isidore, lighting designer Zoe Spurr, video designer Akhila Krishnan, illusions designer Chris Fisher, composer Oleta Haffner, sound designer Carolyn Downing, choreographer and movement director Ira Mandela Siobhan, puppetry co-designers Daisy Beattie and Seb Mayer, casting director Christopher Worrall CDG, and children’s casting director Verity Naughton CDG.