Godot's To-Do List/Krapp's Last Tape - Royal Court Theatre

For its 70th Anniversary season, the Royal Court is rolling out the red carpet for an incredible lineup of shows and artists. 5 months into the year and we have already had some phenomenal works grace its stages, both upstairs and downstairs, including Guess How Much I Love You? (with BAFTA winning actor Robert Aramayo and Olivier Award Nominee Rosie Sheehy), The Sh*theads and John Proctor is The Villain.

This month, we are going back to the roots of the theatre with a 2-in-1 - 'curtain raiser' and a 'main event,' so to speak. The curtain raiser for this particular production was Godot's To-Do List by Leo Simpe-Asante - winner of the Young Playwright's Award put forward by the Royal Court. This was followed by Samuel Beckett's (Waiting for Godot) Krapp's Last Tape. Whilst the combination was masterful in theory, the tones for the pieces were so distinct that the overall result felt fractured, each piece pulling in its own direction rather than contributing to a cohesive whole.

Godot's To-Do List by Leo Simpe-Asante

Photography: Camilla Greenwell

Have you ever thought about what Godot was actually up to when Vladimir and Estragon were famously waiting for him to arrive? Well, on a random day, Simpe-Asante thought about it and wrote this story into a short one-act play.

Picture this: a single performer, a single stool, a single spotlight, and two voices. In this modern take, Godot is stuck in what feels like a separate universe, unable to get out until he completes a list of tasks. From the simple like "do the splits" to the more absurd "stop having an existential crisis." Delivering this list of tasks is an off-stage voice (Flora Ashton). By the end, I was left wondering if that voice was real, or if it was really Godot's conscience weighing heavily on his shoulders.

The writing is funny, fast paced, absurd, thought-provoking - all wrapped up in one neat package. Shakeel Haakim is Godot, in all his vulnerable glory. He and Ashton make a very good pair, with the audience letting out the occasional burst of laughter.

If this is what Simpe-Asante can deliver to us before the age of 20: watch out, World!

Personal Enjoyment: 75% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)

Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett

Photography: Jack English

Starring and directed by Gary Oldman, this new production brings one of Beckett's most intimate 20th century plays to life.

The show is barely 50 minutes long and follows Krapp as he listens to a tape he recorded on his birthday several decades before. Much of the show is spent watching Oldman listen to that tape, seemingly lost in regret, an idea made concrete when he begins to speak. It took me a while to understand what the show was really offering: at its heart, it is simply a portrait of an existential crisis. The tape speaks of a Krapp in his thirties, full of hopes and dreams, with his whole life ahead of him. The man we see on stage, however, is alone in a cluttered room, suggesting that his once sunny disposition has long since turned to cynicism.

On its own, this production did little for this reviewer. The room was so quiet that one could hear a literal pin drop, apart from the couple who announced "and we're off!" just as Oldman was about to start the tape. And yet, even in that silence, it was difficult to make out what was being said. A quick search after the show confirmed what I thought I had understood, which is not a great sign of an accessible production.

For those who have dreamed of seeing Oldman on stage, he could be eating a banana and they would be satisfied. Which, coincidentally, did happen. For those who enjoy decoding a piece and uncovering deeper meaning through research and reflection, this is a rewarding show. But for anyone wanting a more straightforward experience, this is not quite it.

Personal Enjoyment: 50% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)

Overall Score: 63% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4*)

(AD | gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: Royal Court Theatre, London

Playing until: 30th May 2026

Run Time: Approximately 75 min with both shows

Tickets for this production are now SOLD OUT. Check the theatre's website regularly for returns.