Coming of Godot

FIfty years ago Sir Peter Hall directed the English language world premiere of Samuel Backett's Waiting for Godot. Now he has returned to this extraordinary classic, the quintessential absurdist piece that has become one of the most important works of modern drama.



Jonathan Croall, who had access to rehearsals for this landmark anniversary production, combines an account of this theatrical journey with an informative history of the play that has intrigued, baffled, provoked and entertained all those who have ever come across Vladimir, Estragon and the ever elusive Godot.

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Foreword by Sir Peter Hall.

Jonathan Croall comes from an acting background: his father John Stuart was a star of the early British cinema, his mother Barbara Francis a drama-school teacher and leading voice coach. He has been editor of Arts Express magazine, editor of the National Theatre's magazine StageWrite, and programmes editor at the Old Vic. He is the author of John Gielgud: Matinee Idol to Movie Star; In Search of Gielgud: A Biographer's Tale; Gielgoodies! The Wit and Wisdom (& Gaffes) of John Gielgud; Sybil Thorndike: A Star of Life; Buzz Buzz! Playwrights, Actors and Directors at the National Theatre; The Coming of Godot: A Short History of a Masterpiece (nominated for the 2005 Theatre Book Prize); Closely Observed Theatre: From the National to the Old Vic; and Hamlet Observed, Inside the Molly House and Peter Hall's 'Bacchai' in the series The National Theatre at Work. His latest theatre book is Performing King Lear: Gielgud to Russell Beale, and he is now working on a similar book about Hamlet. His other books include the biography Neill of Summerhill, the oral history Don't You Know There's a War On?: Voices from the Home Front, the children's novel Sent Away, and Forgotten Stars: My Father and the Silent-Film World.
Hear Jonathan Croall talking to Theatre Voice about the life of John Gielgud
Sir Peter Hall was one of the greatest theatre, film and opera directors of our time. His extraordinary career spanned more than half a century. In his mid-20s he staged the English language premiere of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. In 1960, at the age of 29, he founded the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 1973 he was appointed Director of the National Theatre and opened the new theatres on the South Bank. He later founded the Peter Hall Company, producing many West End and Broadway successes. Then in 2003 he founded the Rose Theatre Kingston.
Sir Peter directed over two hundred productions, including his seminal The Wars of the Roses (1963) adapted with John Barton from Shakespeare's history plays, which was described as the greatest Shakespearian event in living memory. He directed the world premiere Peter Shaffer's Amadeus (1979), and the premieres of most of Harold Pinter's plays.
He also directed at international opera houses, including Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera and Bayreuth. Throughout his life, Sir Peter championed public funding for the arts.
Sir Peter was diagnosed with dementia in 2011 and died on 11th September 2017, at the age of 86, surrounded by his family.