Childhood classic, but make it larger than life. From now till May 9, The BFG (short for The Big Friendly Giant) stomps into Esplanade Theatre in a dazzling stage adaptation that will wow anyone who grew up with this beloved Roald Dahl children’s novel. Brought to life by the Royal Shakespeare Company (the same folks behind Matilda the Musical), Chichester Festival Theatre, Singapore Repertory Theatre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and Roald Dahl Story Company Production, this is no sleepy bedtime story. Sit tight for towering puppets, dreamlike visuals and a generous dose of Dahl’s deliciously odd humour.
Follow Sophie, a plucky orphan, as she’s whisked away to Giant Country and befriends the gentlest giant of them all – a snozzcumber-munching, dream-catching softie with a big heart. Together, they hatch a daring plan to outwit child-gobbling giants and save the world. It's the kind of "Phizz-Whizzing" theatre that leans into imagination and runs with it.
And if you're wondering whether Tom Wells' staged adaptation does justice to the original story: it absolutely does. Feast your senses on everything from a kaleidoscope of lights to glowing 'dreams' that whizzes across the theatre. The dream-making sequence alone is worth the ticket, complete with bubbles, smoke and even a mini fiery explosion.
Puppetry is used to brilliant effect, constantly shifting perspectives so the 12ft-high mechanical BFG looms larger than life one moment and appears almost human the next, while Sophie flips between tiny puppet and full-sized girl. The puppets are also designed to look like their human counterparts and are manipulated so perfectly that they look almost natural.
Add witty, Gobblefunk-laced dialogue, stirring music, clever sets that toy with scale, and attention-grabbing special effects, and you’ve got a production that feels both technically impressive and genuinely magical. Bring the kids or just your inner one. Get your tickets here.