By Ian Diddams
Images by Playing Up Theatre Company
Samuel Beckett’s existential work is performed in the round this week in Bath’s Mission Theatre, by the Playing Up Theatre Company…..
“Give them enough rope and they’ll hang themselves” …. Beckett’s rope is superbly used by the company to great aplomb as it happens. Gogo (Matt Nation) and Didi (Darian Nelson), have no rope to do so whilst wanting to, while Lucky (Sam Fynn) and Pozzo (Jack Strawbridge) do have rope but no suicidal tendencies. Godot naturally never appears although his messenger (Scarlett Nation) delivers his tardy apologies.
These five perform on a traditionally sparse set, with cunning use of lighting for the tree, accompanied by two large rocks and two entrances to frame the action. Heavy winter clothing sets the season. Sophie Brookes’ direction does the rest, ably supported by Richard Chivers’ tech.
“Godot” is fundamentally a five-person, two-hour “monologue”. It’s word heavy, with little flow – “Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes”. It has challenging scenes of slavery and abuse. Large parts of it are difficult to fathom. But the company provides a phenomenally slick production that avoids turgidity. This is community theatre at its very finest – professional qualities abounding. All characterisation is stunning, the gibbering loon of Lucky especially – disturbingly – so.
“Godot” ran until Saturday 13th May. The only question you needed to ask is “Shall we go?”. But now like our eponymous heroes… don’t move…
Future productions at the Mission Theatre, Bath, Here.
Trending….
Strange Days Indeed, at The Barge on HoneyStreet
Earthlings and all other organic lifeforms with a taste for the occult, fortean and general weirdness are heading to The Barge at HoneyStreet the first…
Fortnightly Banking Drop-in Sessions Replaces Devizes’ Lloyds….
No smiling faces in this snap! Our MP Brian Matthew met with representatives from Lloyds Bank yesterday to raise concerns about the closure of the…
“Gaslight” at The Mission Theatre, Bath, July 8th-11th 2026
by Ian Diddams images by Michael Stevens – Pharos Photography Shakespeare is credited as having introduced around 1,700 words into the English language, and several…
Bird is The Word Caged! Trowbridge’s New Music Venue Coming Soon
It looks like fowlers have finally caught them! I mean, wildly flying around, daytime clubbing, karaoke cavorting, supporting and promoting local live music, who does…
Deadlight Dance New Single & Video
New single from our gothic duo Deadlight Dance, taken from March’s album Vox Populi…. Second tune on the album, a ballad to the poisonous evergreen…
Who’s Lovin a Devizes McDonalds and Tesco?
For what it’s worth, I’m impartial to the prospect of McDonalds, Tesco too. I’ve got viewpoints to waffle endlessly with no real conclusion, if you’ve…
Brian on FullTone Festival
Our regular historian and Visiting Research Fellow of The Regional History Centre, UWE Bristol, Brian Edwards takes some time to sketch the FullTone Orchestra ahead…
CSF Professional Wrestling Returns to Devizes
The larger than life superstars from CSF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING return to Devizes, Wiltshire on July 11th for a very special edition of SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM,…
Update on the Update of a Postcard Fiasco as Untouchable Newsquest Joins the Party!
Though I wish it would be dropped and faded into the archives, it’s got legs! We’re still on about “postcardgate,” but the trivia sometimes becomes…
The Grand Return of CrownFest
The first week into July, and two local festivals of five ticked off! CrownFest went down a hit with those who attended this fantastic reputation…
devizine.com 