The Giant

Synopsis

A vast block of Carrara marble known as Il Gigante becomes the centre of conflict between two great artists, as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo compete for a prestigious commission to carve a statue of David. The result is one of the most iconic works of the Renaissance - but who was the model? Powerful, witty and moving, Anthony Sher's play explores the dark interplay between sexuality and creativity. This production contains nudity.

Our Review:

8 November 2007

The giant – “il gigante” – in question is a huge block of marble from which will be hewn the statue now known as the Michelangelo David. Antony Sher’s gripping and ambitious new play shows how it nearly became known as the Da Vinci David.

The two artists were in Florence at the same time, around 1501, and there is a theory that the model for the sculpture was one of the quarrymen at Carrara, where the stone comes from (Henry Moore also quarried at Carrara and I myself have a neutral little slab of the stuff on my mantelpiece). So, in Sher’s invention, the artists first of all vie for the commission and then for the attention of the unspeakably beautiful young man, Vito, who happens to be married with a young child (we never see his family).

Old Vito (Richard Moore) introduces the story, giving it an epic, Brechtian dimension from the start, while the literally stunning newcomer Stephen Hagan – fresh from LAMDA, with a Belfast accent that indicates provincialism in ...

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Latest User Review

Regina - 13 April 2008:

It was very great. I am from German and I saw The Giant three times. Of course I saw this play because John Light. He is my favourite actor, but Roger Allam and Stephen Hagan and the other were very good. Now I hope, I can see my favourite John Light and maybe the other actor's again. ...

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