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The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 4m

Adapted for the stage by David Wood
From the book by Roald Dahl

This stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book about the 24-feet-tall Big Friendly Giant and a little orphan called Sophie brings some of Dahl’s most memorable characters to life.

The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary

This stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book about the 24-foot-tall Big Friendly Giant and a little orphan called Sophie brings some of Dahl’s most memorable characters to life.

The BFG and Sophie team up to save the children of England from the child-eating giants Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater, Bonecruncher, Meatdripper, Childchewer and Gizzardgulper. They are assisted by the Queen of England and the Heads of the Army and Airforce with their helicopters. Locations include the BFG’s cave in Giant Country, Dream Country and Buckingham Palace.

History
The BFG was first performed at Wimbledon Theatre in 1991, followed by a tour and a West End season for Christmas at the Aldwych Theatre. Since then, there have been two major UK tours and two West End seasons at the Albery Theatre and Playhouse Theatre. The play has also become popular in the United States, with productions by Chicago Children’s Theatre, Dallas Children’s Theater and, in a slightly revised version, Seattle Children’s Theatre.
Keywords
Performing Groups

SOPHIE
THE BFG
THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND
MARY
MR. TIBBS
MRS. CLINKERS
HEAD OF THE ARMY
HEAD OF THE AIR FORCE
KING OF SWEDEN
SULTAN OF BAGHDAD
MONSIEUR PAPILLON
THE FLESHLUMPEATER
THE BONECRUNCHER
THE MANHUGGER
THE CHILDCHEWER
THE MEATDRIPPER
THE GIZZARDGULPER
THE MAIDMASHER
THE BLOODBOTTLER
THE BUTCHER BOY

Parts may be doubled; a mimimum cast of 8 is required to cover the 30 roles.

Minimum cast of 8 to play 30 roles.

  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features Play w/ Music
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“It is quite scrumdiddlyumptious... will thrill the kids without boring the adults.” – Bristol Evening Post

“A combination of top playwright David Wood and top children’s writer Roald Dahl can’t fail.” – Western Daily Press

“Any child not delighted by The BFG must have a head filled with squashed flies and deserves to be fed for a year on disgustatious snozzcumbers.” – The Guardian

“Like most David Wood shows, this will thrill the kids without boring the adults. I’d be bogswinkled if I didn’t admit it is quite scrumdiddlyumptious.” – Bristol Evening Post

“The BFG presents an awesome challenge which the children’s dramatist meets with his customary panache… The chiddlers in the audience seemed genuinely enthralled – and it certainly makes a change from the telebunkum box”. – Financial Times

“Whizzpopping wonderful!” – Croydon Advertiser

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Playwright Interview: David Wood

Videos

  • David Wood on BFG youtube thumbnail

    David Wood on BFG

  • David Wood on Roald Dahl youtube thumbnail

    David Wood on Roald Dahl

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
  • Optional Music/Media Fee: £37 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

David Wood

David Wood

David Wood has been called “the national children’s dramatist” (London Times). His plays are performed worldwide, and include The Gingerbread Man, The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner, Save the Human, Aladdin, Hijack Over Hygenia, Jack the Lad, Larry the Lamb in Toytown, Old ...

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Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a spy, ace fighter pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor. His first moment of inspiration came when he was at boarding school, when a local chocolate factory invited pupils to trial new chocolate bars. Thirty-five years later, Charlie and ...

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