Waiting for Godot Feelings ran high and the opposition, led by Sir Malcolm Sargent, threatened to resign if "Godot" won [The Best New Play category]. An English compromise was worked out by changing the title of the award. "Godot" became The Most Controversial Play of the Year. It is a prize that has never been given since." In the Australian premiere at the Arrow Theatre in Melbourne in 1957, Barry Humphries played Estragon opposite Peter O'Shaughnessy's Vladimir. Although not his favourite amongst his plays, "Waiting for Godot" was the work which brought Beckett fame and financial stability and as such it always held
Samuel Beckett Award Samuel Beckett Award The Samuel Beckett Award is a British award set up in 1983 and awarded to writers and directors, who in the opinion of a committee of critics, producers and publishers, showed excellence in writing or directing for the performing arts. The award was established in honour of Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet Samuel Beckett and in recognition of his distinctive contribution to world theatre and literature. Award-winning writers/directors included: The Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award was formed in 2003 to support the showcasing of new innovative theatre and is for a company or