Who dares clown around with Waiting for Godot?

‘Various theatre companies have creatively taken [Waiting for Godot] as inspiration and even sent up the restrictions themselves, such as Little Soldier Productions’ Nothing Happens (Twice) … by two exuberantly Spanish women, Patrícia Rodríguez and Mercè Ribot.’ Photograph: Pau Ros

Unfortunately, Dr Ken Bray is going to have to wait until 2059, when Waiting for Godot’s copyright ends before he can see a circus version of it (Letters, 4 February). The Beckett estate imposes rigid restrictions on all productions, stating that they must follow Samuel Beckett’s script and staging instructions to the letter, including that the roles may only be played by men. However, various theatre companies have creatively taken the play as inspiration and even sent up the restrictions themselves, such as Little Soldier Productions’ Nothing Happens (Twice), which includes clowning, slapstick and flamingo costumes, by two exuberantly Spanish women, Patrícia Rodríguez and Mercè Ribot.
Sarah-Jane Watkinson
Birmingham

• Dr Ken Bray evidently missed the Manchester Royal Exchange production of Waiting for Godot in 1980, when the circus tricks he yearns for were provided with panache by the great Max Wall.