Waiting for Godot

Estragon and Vladimir are two men, seeking something but they’re not sure what. They stand in a barren land with only a willow tree for scenery awaiting the arrival of ‘Godot’, they know not what will happen when he arrives, or if he will arrive at all, but they know they must wait. Time passes at an unknown rate, they have stood here before, how many times is not clear to us or them but the impression given is that it is many as they become increasingly exasperated over their time together. 

The design of the play from Rae Smith remains simple; a barren wasteland of grey, rocky terrain and the all-important single tree allows us to focus on the story and incredible acting. Ben Wishaw as Vladimir is simply sublime, with a heightened nervous energy, wonderful physicality and a talent for physical comedy too.  Ben is giving the performance of a lifetime here and it feels a privilege to witness it. He plays the role with a sense of care and comfort, opposing the grumpy character of Estragon played by Lucian Msamati, who is magnificent in this part. Lucian does a wonderful job of bringing the character to life; with his memory problems and physical ailments, he is slower than Vladimir and often needs reminding of why he is waiting and what he is waiting for. You instantly warm to the character and feel a sense of sadness as they become more and more disillusioned in their waiting.