In this powerful and timely episode, Adam sits down with Olivier Award-winning director-turned-writer Mark Rosenblatt, the creative force behind Giant, the searing and sensational play that explores the genius and the darkness of Roald Dahl. Starring the legendary John Lithgow—who also took home an Olivier for Best Actor—Giant dives deep into the tangled web of brilliance, grief, controversy, and antisemitism that surrounded one of the world’s most beloved and most complicated authors.
Recorded in front of a live audience in central London to mark the 20th anniversary of The Heart Cells Foundation, this episode celebrates creativity, courage, and the quiet revolution of stepping into your truth. Just three days before filming, Mark received his own Olivier at the Royal Albert Hall, presented by Ewan McGregor and Elizabeth Debicki. In an emotional and honest conversation, he shares what it felt like to be recognised for his first-ever play and the journey that took him from self-doubt to centre stage.
Mark reveals how the seed for Giant was planted when Sir Nicholas Hytner casually suggested he might try writing—an idea that sat dormant until lockdown gave him the space to bring it to life. Inspired by his own childhood love of Dahl’s stories, and compelled by the writer’s antisemitic remarks during the Lebanon War era, Mark began to unpick the moral complexity of Dahl’s legacy. Rather than cancelling Dahl, Mark chose to examine him—with empathy, intellectual honesty, and a dramatic lens that lets the audience grapple with their own beliefs.
We talk about the emotional weight of writing as a British Jew exploring antisemitism, the tension of launching a controversial play amid the Israel-Gaza conflict, and how Dahl’s personal tragedies—from his daughter’s death to his son’s life-altering accident—informed both his work and Giant itself.
With John Lithgow perfectly cast as Dahl (thanks to Hytner’s inspired suggestion) and Elliot Levey winning Best Supporting Actor, Giant has become one of the most talked-about plays in the West End. A Broadway transfer is on the cards.
This episode is a tribute to the healing power of art, the bravery of reinvention, and the impact of asking bold questions in a world that often demands easy answers.
Special thanks to The Heart Cells Foundation for their incredible work and for hosting this unforgettable live event.
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