Samuel Beckett’s classic play is about two tramps, Estragon and Vladimir, who are left by the side of an empty road. They are waiting for a man called Godot, who never arrives. It is famous for being a play where nothing happens. Despite this it is probably the most easily accessible of all Beckett’s work. Because even though these men are left with nothing to do, they have plenty to say.

One of the many influences that inspired the play was turn of the century music hall theatre and it is this aspect of the play that Sean Mathias and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company have decided to put the main focus on. The set for the play is the ruins of an old, abandoned Victorian theatre. They also bring out the theme by highlighting the references that the characters make to old songs and adding sound effects or moves, which help to highlight some of the more comic moments in the play. It is a clever way of trying to make sense of what can be quite a baffling play.

The only problem with this is that the language is so rich that you wish there were some pieces of dialogue that were left to speak for themselves. However the cast work well together to use every syllable of what Beckett has written to full effect.

The two tramps are played by Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, who both give outstanding performances. In particular McKellen, who brings a sense of desperation and loneliness to Estragon. The superb casting is completed by Simon Callow as an excellently dark Pozzo and Ronald Pickup as a confused and lonely Lucky. Local boy Callum Souter was brilliant as the Boy, working incredibly well with Stewart given his young age and experience.

The company’s decision to cast the likes of McKellen, Stewart, Callow and Pickup will obviously ensure bums on seats, but should also be applauded for exposing one of the great plays of the twentieth century to a new audience.

If you want to see a great play performed by masters of their craft, look no further than this show!

Listings:

The Kings Theatre, Edinburgh

13 to 18 April

Mon – Sat eves 7:30pm

Wed & Sat mats 2:30pm

Tickets: £19.50 - £37.50

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

www.eft.co.uk

Then touring until 25 April and then runs at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 30 April.