The BFG at Chichester Festival Theatre: Review

Not just for chiddlers...

Captains Smith and Frith (Philip Labey and Luke Summer)

Freshly transferred from Stratford-upon-Avon, Tom Wells’ wondercrump adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic enjoyed a full house on press night at Chichester Festival Theatre, where the seating is democratically raked to allow for excellent views throughout.

The puppetry is nothing short of exceptional. Even those familiar with the best of what the UK has to offer in terms of puppet-based children's theatre (at The Little Angel Theatre for example) will be wowed by the sheer scale of the Troublethumpers, with the Bloodbottler requiring four puppeteers to keep him aloft. The playfulness of the miniature version of Sophie too, allows for economies of fear within the production.

And there are some terrifying moments. In front of us, a boy no older than two in his BFG pyjamas sucked his thumb and cuddled close to his dad as the front row got spattered with not-so-friendly giant spittle.

As the innocent “norphan” Sophie, Martha Bailey Vine gives plenty of pluck, and as her loyal friend Kimberly - an addition to Dahl’s original cast of characters - Uma Patel brings a moving sense of solidarity and kinship to the story.

The BFG himself has the air of a streetwise Stephen Mangan. John Leader has a wealth of Shakespeare and classic theatre credits which make him eminently qualified for the squiff-squiggled lexicon of Roald Dahl. Portraying monstrous levels of loneliness, his character is somehow more empathetic and poignant than the giant we knew before.

Another surprising addition to the original story is the dynamic duo, Captains Smith and Frith, whose snot-mopping moustaches are a source of much hilarity. Bringing that classic Britcom vibe reminiscent of Harry Enfield or Paul Whitehouse, this was the perfect comic relief from some of the more menacing scenes. The Queen too, played by Helena Lymbery, lends a plummy spoofery to proceedings, making Buckingham Palace look like a well-oiled Fawlty Towers, with her trusty butler Tibbs (Sargon Yelda) as chief of operations. Yelda’s timing is impeccable as he begs the question, “’Why is there a skylight window in the panic room?”

The magic and mystery of dreams is brought to life spectacularly by Illusions Director and magic circle member Chris Fisher, known for his work on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Like fish swimming around the bowl of the auditorium, the golden phizz-wizards and raucous ring-bellers inspire awe and wonder in even the most Trunchbullian of natures.

Book tickets here.

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