WAITING FOR GODOT

by Samuel Beckett

Directed by Phil Davey

teaman@live.it

THE PLAY

Samuel Beckett’s first play,Waiting for Godot, first performed  in the playwright’s English translation from the original French in London in 1955, was described by Beckett as a tragi-comedy in two Acts and by a newspaper critic of the time as a play in which nothing happens twice.

 Two homeless people, Vladimir and Estragon, are waiting for Godot, whoever or whatever Godot may be. Perennial companions of the road, bickering and making up, they pass the time till Godot’s  arrival with verbal gymnastics and physical clowning. The arrival of Pozzo, driving with a whip a rope-bound baggage-carrying slave Lucky, provides a major diversion. On their departure, a Boy arrives with a message from Godot. The second Act repeats this pattern, with one significant change: Pozzo is now blind.

Performances will take place on the main stage at the Theatre at 19.30, from 11th February until the 15th  February, with a 14.30 matinee on 15th & 16th February

We have decided to use the main stage for this production rather than the Studio (which was used successfully for Endgame last year) because space and movement are central to Waiting for Godot, in contrast with Endgame’s claustrophobic immobility. We want, however, to maintain the same feeling of intimacy between audience and performers that was achieved in Endgame. For this reason, the set will be minimal, and tickets will be restricted to 80 per performance with seats available only in the first five or so rows of the central stalls.

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will begin on 17th November with weekday evenings from 18.45 – 21.30, Saturday mornings from 10.30 – 13.00 and Sunday afternoons from 13.00 – 15.30 . Vladimir, Estragon and Pozzo will generally have 3 to 4 rehearsals per week, and Lucky and the Boy once a week up until Production Week when the whole cast will be required for every rehearsal.

A full Rehearsal Schedule will be provided if you are offered a part and you will be expected to commit to those rehearsals if you accept a role. There will be a break for Christmas and the New Year

(22nd December to 1st January incl.).

AUDITIONS

Auditions will take place at the Maddermarket Theatre on;

28th September – 10.30 -13.00

29th September – 18.45 – 21.15

30th September – 18.45 – 21.15

1st October– 18.45 – 21.15

Call backs may be arranged for 4th October  if necessary

Initial auditions will be individual, and extracts from the text will be provided beforehand.

To book an audition please contact Phil Davey at teaman@live.it

and return the completed audition form below.

CHARACTERS

Vladimir: homeless, early to late middle age, inclined to metaphysical flights of thought, a major role including many lines of quick fire dialogue as well as physical clowning

Estragon: homeless, early to late middle age,

inclined to earthiness, a major role including many lines of quick fire dialogue as well as physical clowning

Pozzo: land owner, slave owner, early to late middle age, patronising, a major role, many lines of monologue, a domineering physical presence in Act 1, blind and helpless in Act 2

Lucky: Pozzo’s slave, late middle age to early old age, one extraordinary monologue and dance, a painful presence on stage for much of both Acts

A Boy: a luminous messenger from Godot at the end of both Acts, boyish

TEXT

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

Second edition

Faber and Faber Ltd:

ISBN: 0571058086

AUDITION FORM