WAITING FOR GODOT Returns to Theatre Royal Haymarket Next Year

The Theatre Royal, Haymarket's hit production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot that ended a sell-out run in August of this year will return for an encore run early next year, according to the show's star, Ian McKellen.  In his acceptance speech after winning the Lebedev Special Award for outstanding contribution to British Theatre at the Evening Standard Awards earlier today, McKellen remarked that he felt he had unfinished business with the production, which he called "the most joyful professional experience I've ever had."

Patrick Stewart will be replaced by Roger Rees in the show as Vladimir, due to the former's scheduling conflicts.  Sean Mathias will resume direction.

Though best known to American audiences for playing the character Robin Colcord on the American television show Cheers, Roger Rees won a Tony Award for his performance in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He additionally appeared on Broadway in Uncle Vanya, The Rehearsal, Indiscretions (Tony nomination),  London Assurance, and The Red Shoes in 1993. He additionally starred Off-Broadway in the original Lincoln Center Theater production of Ahrens and Flaherty's A Man of No Importance. In London, he also created a leading role in the world premiere of Stoppard's The Real Thing in the West End in 1984. On screen he has appeared in "The West Wing" on television and on film in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." He served as artistic director of Williamstown Theatre Festival from 2004 to 2007.

The return dates for Waiting for Godot are forthcoming.  For more information visit http://www.trh.co.uk/