New theatre production of Roald Dahl’s The BFG to open at Esplanade in April
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A visual for the upcoming production of The BFG, to be staged at the Esplanade Theatre from April 22, 2026.
PHOTO: ESPLANADESINGAPORE/INSTAGRAM
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SINGAPORE – It is time to let your love out, as The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is heading to Singapore in April 2026.
A new stage adaptation of the 1982 children’s novel by British author Roald Dahl will play at the Esplanade Theatre from April 22 for 12 performances.
This is the first time the show is being performed here as a theatre production. A previous 1991 adaptation was staged in the West End and in the United States, but did not travel to Singapore.
The new version is co-produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre, Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC), Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
It clocks in at about one hour and 50 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. Priority sales of tickets – priced from $48 to $158 – will begin from Oct 15 at 10am, and early-bird public sales start on Oct 22 at 10am.
The production will premiere at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in November and transfer to Chichester in March 2026 before arriving here. Singapore is its only stop outside Britain.
Adapted by English playwright Tom Wells, this production is directed by RSC co-artistic director Daniel Evans.
The BFG tells the story of Sophie, a young orphan whisked away to Giant Country, where she befriends the dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching Big Friendly Giant. Together, they set out to stop the child-eating giants and prove that even the smallest person can change the world.
In a press statement, Evans and RSC co-artistic director Tamara Harvey said: “We are thrilled to be working with SRT and Esplanade to share this exhilarating stage adaptation with audiences here in the United Kingdom and across the globe.”
SRT’s artistic director Gaurav Kripalani added: “Co-producing Roald Dahl’s The BFG with the RSC, Chichester Festival Theatre and Roald Dahl Story Company is a huge coup for Singapore. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and I hope everyone rallies behind the show, buys a ticket and helps us fly the flag proudly as The BFG goes on to capture hearts around the world.”
Gaurav Kripalani, artistic director of Singapore Repertory Theatre, said co-producing The BFG is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
PHOTO: ARTS HOUSE LIMITED
Esplanade’s chief executive Yvonne Tham added: “This international collaboration allows us to bring to stage a story that speaks to the universal values of looking beyond appearances and recognising the goodness in one another. We hope that this production will also be an entry point into the magic of theatre for the young and the young at heart, and spark the imagination of future generations.”
Book it/The BFG
Where: Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive sistic.com.sg www.srt.com.sg/TheBFG www.esplanade.com/TheBFG
When: April 22 to May 2, 2026, 7pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays) and 2.30pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
Admission: $48 to $158 via Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to
