The new BFG John Leader and director Daniel Evans discuss bringing the Roald Dahl classic to the stage

Yesterday, WhatsOnStage was invited to the Roald Dahl Story Company for an exclusive interview with the newly announced lead actor of the upcoming stage adaptation of The BFG, John Leader, and director Daniel Evans.

Watch the video below to hear Leader’s thoughts on stepping into the giant shoes of one of Dahl’s most beloved characters and how the pair plan on bringing his world to life on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon and Chichester.

The BFG’s creative team also features puppetry designer and director Toby Olié, set designer Vicki Mortimer, costume designer Kinnetia Isidore, lighting designer Zoe Spurr, video designer Akhila Krishnan, illusionist Chris Fisher, composer Oleta Haffner, sound designer Carolyn Downing, choreographer and movement director Ira Mandela Siobhan and puppetry co-designer Daisy Beattie.

Tom Wells’ adaptation brings Roald Dahl’s story to the stage, following the journey of Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant as they navigate a world of dreams, giants and adventure.

The production has confirmed that a troupe of puppeteers will work with Leader at different points within the play to represent the changes in height and size of the character, according to our perspective at the time.

The BFG will run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, with a press night on 9 December. A subsequent run at Chichester Festival Theatre will take place from 16 March to 12 April 2026, with full details to be announced next month.

The show was announced as part of the RSC’s brand-new season.

You can also listen to Evans and RSC co-artistic director Tamara Harvey discuss the production in an episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast here: