Ian McKellen's WAITING FOR GODOT Diary

During his run as Estragon in London's Theatre Royal's revival of 'Waiting for Godot' last year, reputed film and stage actor Ian McKellen kept a diary with observations and commentary of events surrounding the production.

In one of the diary entries, published by the UK's 'Times Online', McKellen writes about the tremendous success of the production and of the fact that it attraced an international audience that flocked to see the revival, "We would meet them afterwards at the stage door. My first question was always, "Where have you come from?" Someone would say, "I've come from Galway." Someone else would say, "I've come from Sweden." And someone would say, "I've come from Perth." I'd say, "That's not very far." "No, Australia." So it had been a real popular success, and I thought: this is what I always wanted to do in the theatre. So the thought that it was going to end was upsetting in a way that I've never really felt before."

Due to the clear success of the production, it soon became clear that the run of 'Godot' should be extended. Of this, McKellen notes, "Then the Haymarket realised that when Breakfast at Tiffany's came off, there was no reason why we shouldn't revive the production. Almost immediately, we were looking at the possibilities, at the dates. I had a commitment to film The Hobbit in New Zealand in March, then that got pushed to June, so then I was suddenly free. Patrick [Stewart, playing Vladimir, aka Didi] wasn't free."

To read the rest of the diary entries in the Times Online, please click here.

Haymarket's production of 'Waiting for Godot' was directed by Sean Mathias. The production starred McKellen and Patrick Stewart. It had a sell-out run, which prompted the theatre company to return for an encore run which will begin on January 21 until 3rd April 2010. Patrick Stewart will be replaced by Roger Rees in the show as Vladimir, due to the former's scheduling conflicts.  Sean Mathias will resume direction. For tickets and information, please click here. 

Ian McKellen made his Beckett debut as Estragon in 'Waiting for Godot'.  He played alongside Patrick Stewart following their onscreen rivalry in the X-Men films.  McKellen has previously collaborated with Sean Mathias who has directed him as Uncle Vanya, the Captain in Dance of Death and as Widow Twankey twice.  Since he started acting in 1961, he has worked non-stop on stage and screen.  For the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Companies, McKellen has produced and acted in plays old and new, most recently on the RSC's world tour as King Lear. He produced and wrote the screenplay for his Richard III and was nominated for an Oscar for Gods and Monsters and for Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.  He recently played in Coronation Street and has just completed ITV's remake of The Prisoner.

 

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