Exclusive: casting announced for Waiting for Godot

Casting for the Sheffield Theatres production of Samuel Beckett's surreal play Waiting for Godot has been announced. Charlotte Gwinner's production will star Lorcan Cranitch as Vladimir and Jeff Rawle as Estragon.

Richard Cordery will be joining them as Pozzo and Bob Goody will play Lucky. The production is due to open at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield on February 4. One of the Irish dramatist's most famous plays, Waiting for Godot follows two friends as they wait for a mysterious stranger who they call Godot.

The play first premiered in France in 1953 and saw its English language premiere in 1954, directed by Peter Hall.

Rawle's previous work includes the recent hits High Society and Handbagged, and Irish actor Cranitch is known for The Tempest (Abbey Theatre) and Ivanov (Donmar West End). Rawle grew up in Sheffield, so will be coming home to play Estragon, while it will be the first time Cranitch has played Vladimir.

Waiting for Godot runs at Sheffield's Crucible until February 27.