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Performance dates
13 September - 21 December 2024
Run time Approx. 2hrs - 2hrs 30mins
Includes interval
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Waiting for Godot London tickets
Samuel Beckett’s game changing play returns to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a strictly limited season. Starring Lucian Msamati and Ben Whishaw, tickets are expected to quickly sell-out, so don’t wait too long to book yours!
What is Waiting for Godot about?
“Let us do something, while we have the chance…at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it before it is too late!”
One of the greatest plays of the 20th century, Waiting for Godot explores the meaning of life and the absurdity of existence.
Didi and Gogo 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…
Facts and critical acclaim
- In a 1998 poll of more than 800 theatre professionals conducted by the UK's Royal National Theatre, Waiting for Godot was voted the most important English-language play of the 20th century.
- Ben Whishaw is the recipient of two Emmys, two BAFTAs and a Golden Globe.
- Lucian Msamati was the first black actor to play Iago in the Royal Shakespeare Company's acclaimed 2015 production of Othello. He has also starred in the Olivier award-winning Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Amadeus, and the multi-award winning Clybourne Park.
Waiting for Godot cast
- Lucian Msamati
- Ben Whishaw
Waiting for Godot creatives
- Book: Samuel Beckett
- Director: James Macdonald
Access
Audio Described Performance: Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 7.30pm , Captioned Performance: Thursday 24 October 2024 at 7.30pm,Latest Waiting for Godot News
News / Features / New Shows + Transfers
Star-Studded Shows to See This Black Friday
With an incredible array of star-studded productions included in our Black Friday sale, now’s your chance to bag a ticket and see big names for less! That’s right, the West End has more celebs than a copy of Heat magazine, and the content is a lot more ‘A-list’ too…
Ben Whishaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Steve Coogan are all taking centre stage this winter, so there’s no better time to indulge in some top-tier theatre. Whether you’re a fan of razor sharp comedy, thought-provoking drama, or outrageous panto, there’s no shortage of performances by some of the biggest names in the business. These shows are more than just a chance to spot a celeb or two—they offer unforgettable experiences, incredible performances, and an evening out that you won’t soon forget. Here’s a rundown of some of the most talked-about productions.
Bill Bailey: Thoughtifier | Save up to 45%
Comedy fans can rejoice as Bill Bailey returns to the stage with his latest stand-up show, Thoughtifier. The beloved comedian, actor, and musician brings his signature wit, absurdity, to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, but hurry, he’ll only be at the West End venue for three performances!
Following a well earned rest from his success on Strictly Come Dancing, Bailey is back and it’s 10’s across the board for his mix of surreal comedy, observational humour, and eclectic musical interludes. Critics have already described the new show as a ‘masterclass in both comedy and musical performance’, and are quick to praise the comedian's ever-evolving brilliance. Already a hit with audiences up and down the country, don’t miss your chance to catch him when he brightens up the post-christmas-before-new-year-wasteland on the 29th and 30th December!
Only Fools and Horses: The Musical | Save up to 40%
Everyone’s favourite wheeler dealer is back, and this time he’s armed with a suitcase full of catchy tunes (and knock off portable radios). Set in the heart of Peckham and playing for a strictly limited 3-week run, Only Fools and Horses: The Musical brings the beloved 80s sitcom to life.
The London production, led by Vinnie Jones (The Gentlemen, Snatch) and Paul Whitehouse (Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, The Fast Show) follows a critically acclaimed UK tour and West End run. Co-written by Jim Sullivan, the son of the show's creator and writer, John Sullivan, the musical is a celebration of the iconic Trotter family.
Blending unforgettable moments from the show with toe-tapping new songs and a set design that will have you thinking that you’ve stepped through your television screen, the show has been praised for its heartwarming tribute to the original series. Featuring standout performances and a stellar score, Only Fools and Horses: the Musical has received multiple award wins, and continues to delight fans old and new. Book your tickets today, only a plonker would let this too-good-to-be-true deal go by!
Dr Strangelove | Exclusive Prices
Stanley Kubrick’s critically acclaimed film Dr Strangelove is transported to the West End stage in this world-first adaptation. Offering a darkly comedic take on the Cold War and nuclear catastrophe, Dr Strangelove stars Steve Coogan (I’m Alan Partridge, The Trip) in a standout performance(s). The BAFTA winning actor and comedian brings his nuanced style to not one, but three characters (one more than Peter Sellers in the original film). Here Coogan plays the erratic (and possibly evil) scientist Dr. Strangelove, the hapless British captain Lionel Mandrake, and the oblivious president, Merkin Muffley.
The stage version captures the film's absurdity while exploring its still-relevant themes, making it a must-see for those who are already familiar with the classic, and those who have never seen it. Critics have lauded the show’s biting wit, visual gags, and Coogan’s electric stage presence, declaring it one of the most exciting theatrical events of the season.
28 Nov, 2024 | By Sian McBride
News / Reviews / New Shows + Transfers
Review Roundup: What are the critics saying about Waiting for Godot?
Ben Whishaw (Paddington, James Bond) was so inspired by a production of Waiting for Godot, that he quit his Art foundation degree to study acting instead. Does the new adaptation carry the same life changing weight, or will you be waiting for it to end?
The most well-known play from the Theatre of the Absurd movement, Waiting for Godot was written by theatre legend Samuel Beckett in 1953. 35 years after it first premiered, the play was voted the most important English-language play of the 20th century. The latest reincarnation, currently playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket stars Ben Wishaw and Lucian Msamati (Game of Thrones, See How They Run) as the patient pair, Didi and Gogo.
The duo wait for 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…
20 Sep, 2024 | By Sian McBride
News / Casting / New Shows + Transfers
Waiting for Godot confirm full cast
We hope that there’s enough room on the bench, because full casting has been announced for this year's highly anticipated show, Waiting for Godot! Joining the previously announced Lucian Msamati (Game of Thrones) as Estragon and Ben Whishaw (Paddington) as Vladimir will be Tom Edden (Crazy For You) as Lucky and Jonathan Slinger (Richard II and Richard III) as Pozzo. They will be joined by Luca Fone, Alexander Joseph and Ellis Pang sharing the role of The Boy and Dean Graham (Understudy Vladimir and Lucky) and David Lee-Jones (Understudy Estragon and Pozzo).
Award-winning director, James Macdonald, said today “One of the greatest and most radical plays ever written. Four extraordinary actors. A brilliant design for London's oldest and most beautiful playhouse. For me this is all beyond exciting.”
20 Aug, 2024 | By Sian McBride
News / Features
Theatre Royal Haymarket Best Seats and Seating Plan
Dating back to 1720, The Theatre Royal Haymarket (previously known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is the third oldest playhouse in London still in use. The original building stood further north in Suffolk Street than its current location which has remained the same since 1821 when it was redesigned. The venue is a Grade I listed building, seats 888 and boasts to be the first venue where a matinee performance was scheduled.
What are the best seats at the Theatre Royal Haymarket?
The auditorium is split over four levels consisting of Stalls, Royal Circle, Upper Circle and Gallery. Seating in the stalls is particularly good as the overhang of the circle doesn’t really affect the view from this area until Row V backwards. The next level up, the royal circle, offers an excellent view of the action on stage and the overhang from the Upper Circle doesn’t affect the view from any seat in this section. The seats in the Upper Circle curve toward the stage giving decent views for the price range although legroom is tight. The Gallery feels distant from the stage in comparison to the other areas in the auditorium.
Theatre Royal Haymarket seating plan
6 Jun, 2024 | By James Wareham