Waiting for Godot 2010 - Articles Page 163

Two old friends meet to converse, joke and argue with themselves as they wait through one day and then another for the mysterious Godot…the combination of music hall, poetry and tension redefined what is possible in theatre, so that today Waiting for Godot is accepted as one of the most significant plays of the 20th century.



When Samuel Beckett’s play exploded on to the London stage 50 years ago, it shocked as many people as it delighted. There had never been a play like it; indeed it was said that: "(Beckett) has achieved a theoretical impossibility—a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats.”



In a year rich with diverse drama Sean Mathias’s 2009 production for the Theatre Royal Haymarket matched the success of the London premiere and proved one of the most successful plays of the season (indeed of any season) and broke all box office records for both the play and the theatre.



After a sold out national tour and an extended run in the West End, the Haymarket revives the production, again directed by Sean Mathias with Ian McKellen and Ronald Pickup returning to their memorable roles as Estragon and Lucky. The highly acclaimed and award-winning actors, Roger Rees and Matthew Kelly now join them as Vladimir and Pozzo.



Waiting for Godot returns for a limited season, opening on 21st January for 11 weeks only.