MEET SOPHIE, KIMBERLEY & THE QUEEN – FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE BFG
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre and the Roald Dahl Story Company, have today announced further casting for The BFG.
Making her Royal Shakespeare Company debut in the role of The Queen is Helena Lymbery. She will be joined by Elsie Laslett, Ellemie Shivers and Martha Bailey Vine in the role of Sophie. Completing the announcement, Sophie’s best friend from the orphanage, Kimberley, will be played by Maisy Lee, Charlotte Jones and Uma Patel.
They join the previously announced John Leader, who was confirmed to play the BFG earlier this month. John was last seen with the RSC in The Merry Wives of Windsor and The School for Scandal, both in 2024. His previous theatre credits include Wuthering Heights, Peter Pan and War Horse at the National Theatre, A Monster Calls at The Old Vic and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Bridge Theatre.
Commenting on the latest casting news, Director and Co-Artistic Director of the RSC. Daniel Evans said: “In Tom Wells’ magical new stage adaptation of The BFG, there is no greater power than the power of friendship. Whether you’re a little orphan like Sophie, a dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching giant like The BFG or the Queen of England, friendship can unlock something extraordinary in each of us, giving us the strength, imagination and courage to trust in our own power and change the world for the better.
Helena Lymbery’s wit, warmth and infectious sense of humour make her the perfect choice for our Queen, who finds her closeted life of privilege turned upside down with the arrival of Sophie and The BFG.
Joining Helena are six, incredibly talented young actors who, together, will originate the roles of Sophie and her friend Kimberley.
After just two days of initial workshops, Elsie, Ellemie and Martha (our trio of Sophies), along with Charlotte, Maisy and Uma (our Kimberleys) are already proving to be powerful in the room! To welcome such a diverse range of age and experience to bring The BFG to life is an absolute thrill for me as a Director and I can’t wait for rehearsals to get underway later this month.”
Helena Lymbery has enjoyed an extensive stage career, working alongside companies which include the National Theatre, Royal Court, Royal Exchange, Bush, Leeds Playhouse, Young Vic, English National Opera, Pentabus, Sonia Friedman Prods and Paines Plough.
During this time, she has enjoyed roles in major productions such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End, where she portrayed Madam Hooch, Petunia Dursley, and Dolores Umbridge. More recently, Helena played Christabel in the world-premiere of David Hare’s Grace Pervades, which opened at the Theatre Royal Bath earlier this year and originated the role of Dr Jakes in the hit National Theatre production of Ballet Shoes.
Further stage credits include: Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear; Treasure Island, This House, The Cat in the Hat, ...some trace of her, Women of Troy, Attempts on her Life, Iphigenia at Aulis, His Dark Materials, Wicked Yaar, Henry V (National Theatre), Richard III, Henry V, Measure For Measure (Globe), Britannicus, Watership Down, The Magic Carpet (Lyric, Hammersmith), Run Sister Run (Soho Theatre/Sheffield Theatres/Paines Plough), Dear Elizabeth (Gate Theatre), Queen Margaret (Royal Exchange Theatre), Pity, Rough Cuts, God Bless the Child, The Laws of War (Royal Court), Wolves Are Coming For You.
Helena’s TV credits include Doctor Foster, playing the role of Mrs. Walters, Father Brown, Oliver Twist, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, The Bill, and Alastair McGowan’s Big Impression. Helena also featured in the film adaptation of London Road; based on the National Theatre’s highly acclaimed verbatim musical directed by Rufus Norris.
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel, this magical new stage adaptation by Tom Wells (The Kitchen Sink, Jumpers for Goalposts) will open at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon for a 10-week run over the festive season in 2025.
One extraordinary night, a young orphan named Sophie is snatched by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country.
There she learns that human-eating giants are guzzling 'norphans' the world over. But she soon discovers that her new friend, the BFG, is different – he's a dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching gentle soul who refuses to eat humans.
While other giants terrorise the world, the BFG ignites Sophie's imagination, and they devise a daring plan to save children everywhere. In the end, the smallest human bean and the gentlest giant prove that a dream can change the world.
The BFG will play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 November 2025 – 31 January 2026 with Press Night on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
The production will run at Chichester Festival Theatre from Monday 9 March – Saturday 11 April 2026 with tickets now on sale.
Joining Daniel and Tom on the creative team is Puppetry Designer and Director, Toby Olié; Set Designer, Vicki Mortimer; Costume Designer, Kinnetia Isidore; Lighting Designer, Zoe Spurr; Video Designer, Akhila Krishnan; Illusions, Chris Fisher; Composer, Oleta Haffner; Sound Designer, Carolyn Downing; Choreographer and Movement Director, Ira Mandela Siobhan; Puppetry Co-Designer, Daisy Beattie; and Senior Set Design Associate, Matt Hellyer. The Casting Director is Christopher Worrall CDG; and the Children’s Casting Director is Verity Naughton CDG.
Tickets for The BFG are available from £16. Discounts are available for Over 65s, Disabled People and Carers, Families, UK School and College Groups and Groups of 10 or more. Terms and conditions apply. See the website rsc.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01789 331111 for more details and to buy tickets.
Instagram: @thersc and @roald_dahl
Royal Shakespeare Company incorporated under Royal Charter. Registered charity No. 212481
A Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and Roald Dahl Story Company production
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Tuesday 25 November 2025 – Saturday 31 January 2026
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Press Night: Tuesday 9 December at 7pm
Chichester Festival Theatre
Monday 9 March – Saturday 11 April 2026
Press Night: Thursday 12 March at 7pm
Full details and booking will be announced in September 2025.
Discounts are available for Over 65s, Disabled People and Carers, Families, UK School and College Groups and Groups of 10 or more. Terms and conditions apply. See the website rsc.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01789 331111 for more details and to buy tickets.
Assisted Performances at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre:
Audio Described Performance – Saturday 20 December 2pm, Wednesday 28 January 7.15pm
Handheld Captioned Performance – Tuesday 23 December, 2pm
Chilled & Captioned Performance – Saturday 3 January 2pm
BSL Integrated Performance – Friday 16 January 2pm
Relaxed Performance with Integrated BSL Interpreter, Audio Described & Captioned – Thursday 22 January 2pm
Chilled Performance – Thursday 29 January, 2pm
Captioned Performance – Friday 30 January 7.15pm
Creative Team Talk – Monday 8 December, 5.15 – 6pm
Unwrapped – Saturday 10 January, 11am – 12pm
Post Show Talk (BSL Interpreted) – Friday 16 January
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund
The RSC is generously supported by RSC America
With thanks to Season Supporter Charles Holloway OBE
Craft and Design Sponsor – Pragnell
RSC £10 Tickets for 14-25s supported by TikTok
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
New Work at the RSC is generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation and The Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Trust
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s mission is to bring people together to experience stories that deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and the world around us, and that bring joy. Shakespeare’s restless exploration of all of human nature is our inspiration and touchstone.
The Company’s roots lie in the bold vision of a local brewer, Edward Fordham Flower, who in 1879 established a theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon with his son Charles. The RSC as we know it today was formed by Sir Peter Hall, whose ambition was to produce new plays alongside those of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. We continue this today across our three permanent theatres in Stratford – the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and The Other Place – and indeed online and around the globe. We believe everybody’s life can be enriched by culture and creativity. Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people and adults each year. We have collaborated with generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future.
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