José María Pou will appear on 13 and 14 November 2026 in the play “Gigante” at Santander . The Spanish actor plays the British writer Roald Dahl. Both performances at the Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria are scheduled for 7.30 pm. The play is being staged at the Sala Pereda.
The play by British playwright Mark Rosenblatt addresses a controversy over Dahl’s antisemitic remarks. It is directed by Josep Maria Mestres. The production is a co-production by Teatre Romea and the Grec 2025 festival from Barcelona. Alongside Pou, Victòria Pagès, Pep Planas, Clàudia Benito, Aida Llop and Jep Barceló appear on stage.
The story is set in the summer of 1983. Dahl, whose children’s books are successful internationally, has come under public criticism after an antisemitic article. At his country house, he meets people from his personal circle and the publishing industry. He must decide whether to apologise publicly or stick to his position and put his reputation at risk.
The story is inspired by actual events. According to information about the production, the announced staging examines, among other things, the difference between a reasoned opinion and rhetoric shaped by prejudice. The play also addresses the Middle East conflict, the relationship between artist and person, commercial interests in the cultural sector, and generational differences. Its dramatic treatment does not make it possible to infer whether individual conversations took place exactly as depicted.
Dahl wrote, among other works, “Matilda”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Witches”. “Gigante” does not focus on retelling these children’s books, but on examining their author and the consequences of his public remarks. Pou also undertook the translation for the Spanish version.
The guest performance is part of the cultural programme in Cantabria. According to a report by the regional media outlet ifomo on 8 November, advance sales for both evenings had sold out. The report said that additional tickets equivalent to ten per cent of the seats were to be made available for each performance date. The report does not say how many tickets were still available at the time.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).