Krapp’s Last Tape/Godot’s To-Do List

Krapp’s Last Tape/Godot’s To-Do List

Royal Court Theatre

  • Opens: Friday, 8 May 2026 -
    Booking until: Saturday, 30 May 2026

Krapp’s Last Tape/Godot’s To-Do List description

Krapps Last Tape / Godot's To-Do List stars the brilliant Gary Oldman (Slow Horses).

Part of The Royal Court Theatre's 70th anniversary season for 2026, Samuel Beckett's Krapps Last Tape is on stage at the venue for the first time since 1958, a brand new production by York Theatre Royal. But there's more. An awesome new curtain-raising comedy called Godot's To-Do List kicks off each performance, a Beckett-inspired play crafted by Jerwood New Playwright Leo Simpe-Asante, winner of the 2025 inaugural Royal Court Young Playwrights Award.

The connection between the two plays? Godot's To-Do List, directed by Aneesha Srinivasan, marks seven decades since Beckett's own play debuted as a curtain-raiser at the venue.

The plot of Beckett's play reveals Krapp on his 69th birthday, sitting alone, reflecting on the past as he listens to the echoes of his younger self on a tape recording he made decades earlier. This classic one-act play explores themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time, revealing Krapp's struggle with nostalgia, the loss of his identity, and the harsh realities of the present. Known and loved for its minimalist style, it has been produced across the globe numerous times, including a memorable version by the legendary Harold Pinter.

Gary Oldman directs and stars, with costumes by Guy Speranza, lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, and sound by Tom Smith.

Combine a classic Beckett play with something new and fresh thanks to Krapps Last Tape / Godot's To-Do List tickets.

Starring:

Gary Oldman

Playing at Royal Court Theatre

Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS GB (venue info)

Royal Court Theatre Directions

Age restrictions

Ages 14+.

Important information

Opening the performance every night is Godot's To-Do List, a new Beckett-inspired short play by Leo Simpe-Asante. Purchasing a ticket for Krapp's Last Tape will give you admittance to both shows.