GIANT

Marks Rozenblats

GIANT

Tragicomedy

Translated from English by Gatis Šmits

At the New Hall of Dailes Theatre from

• 29.01.2026.

A play in 2 acts

The summer of 1983 is an especially big challenge for the famous children's book author Roald Dahl. While coping with severe back pain, the writer is preparing his novel "The Witches" for publication, which will become a bestseller. At the same time, he is overseeing a major renovation of the family home, because after 30 years of marriage he has separated from his wife in order to propose to his long-time lover.

Meanwhile, in a recent review of a book depicting Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, Dahl compared Israel to Hitler's Third Reich and Jews to "murderous nuns." His antisemitic remarks trigger a tidal wave of condemnation in the press, after which an unexpected confrontation takes place one hot summer afternoon at Dahl's family home. The writer is forced to choose: apologize publicly or risk his name and reputation.

Inspired by true events, Mark Rosenblatt's debut play "Giant" presents a fascinating portrait of a devilishly charismatic person and, with the help of black comedy, explores the difference between a carefully considered personal opinion and dangerous rhetoric unacceptable to society.

Cast: Ģirts Krūmiņš (Roald Dahl), Gints Grāvelis (Tom Maschler), Kristīne Nevarauska (Felicity "Lissy" Crosland), Jana Herbsta (Jessie Stone), Madara Viļčuka (Holly), Juris Bartkevičs or Jakovs Rafalsons (Wallis Sonders), Ralfs Puzāns (Mike (voice recording))

Director - Gatis Šmits, set and costume designer - Rūdolfs Bekičs, composer - Jēkabs Nīmanis, lighting designer - Aleksandrs Barinovs-Vipulis