West End Revival of Waiting for Godot, Starring Lucian Msamati and Ben Whishaw, Opens September 19
The limited engagement plays the Theatre Royal Haymarket under the direction of James Macdonald.
Lucian Msamati and Ben Whishaw
A new production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot—directed by James Macdonald—officially opens September 19 at the
Theatre Royal Haymarket following previews that began September 13. Performances will continue in the
West End through December 14.
The cast is led by Lucian Msamati (“Master Harold” … and the Boys) as Estragon and Ben Whishaw (The Crucible) as Vladimir with Tom Edden (Crazy for You) as Lucky and Jonathan Slinger (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Pozzo. Luca Fone, Alexander Joseph,
and Ellis Pang share the role of The Boy, and understudies
are Dean Graham and David Lee-Jones.
Beckett’s existential play follows Didi and Gogo, who wait by a tree for a man named Godot.
They don’t know who he is, why they are meeting, or what time he is
coming—only that something incredible could happen when he does.
In an earlier statement Msamati said, “The wait has been worth it! I look
forward to making merry mischief with James Macdonald for the first time
and a too-long overdue reunion with the creative brilliance and genuine
spirit that is Ben Whishaw.”
Whishaw added, “When
I was 18, I was doing an art foundation course in Bedford and went one
night with a friend to London to see a play that was part of a season of
plays by Samuel Beckett at the Barbican Theatre. The play was Waiting for Godot.
The next day I dropped out of my art course, having decided I wanted to
study acting instead. I am unbelievably thrilled and excited—and a
little terrified too—to be having this chance to perform Beckett’s
utterly radical and incredibly beautiful play. It has haunted me since
that night 25 years ago. And to get to do it with Lucian Msamati and
James Macdonald … well, that’s just a dream.”
The production also has set and costume design by Rae
Smith, lighting design by Bruno Poet, sound design by Ian Dickinson and
Niamh Gaffney for Autograph, hair and makeup design by Campbell Young
Associates, casting by Amy Ball, vocal coaching by Hazel Holder, and
production
management by Kate West.
Waiting for Godot is produced by Kate Horton for
Fictionhouse and Len Blavatnik and Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment,
in association with Kate Pakenham Productions.
It was recently announced
that a Broadway production of the Beckett play, starring Keanu Reeves
and Alex Winter, will arrive on Broadway in 2025 under the direction of
Jamie Lloyd.
Visit WaitingforGodotPlay.com.
