Godot's To Do List
Written by Leo Simpe-Asante. Directed by Aneesha SrinivasanThe show
'Could I leave? Please? It's just, I really have somewhere to be.'
A bewildered person wrestles with an endless series of surreal tasks dictated by a snarky, persistent mystery voice.
A new short comedy about the absurd chaos of modern existence – marking the professional debut of Leo Simpe-Asante, winner of the inaugural 2025 Royal Court Young Playwrights Award and named 2026 Jerwood New Playwright, directed by Aneesha Srinivasan.
Godot's To Do List will be presented as a curtain-raiser and will be followed, every performance, by Gary Oldman (Slow Horses) in Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape which returns to the Royal Court, where it played in 1958.
This celebrates a seven-decade-old tradition of curtain-raisers: Krapp’s Last Tape’s own debut was as a curtain-raiser on our stage.
Leo is the 2026 recipient of the Jerwood New Playwright accolade. The Royal Court Theatre's Jerwood New Playwright Programme is supported by Jerwood Foundation.
To think that this play - which started as an idea in a drama school text analysis class, and then went on to win the inaugural Young Playwrights Award - is now going on to have a full run in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, is absolutely astounding.
The company
CAST
Flora Ashton
Shakeel Haakim
Contact list of staff members
Leo Simpe-Asante
Aneesha Srinivasan
Saffeya Shebli
Zara Drohan
Mica Taylor
Booking information
Tickets: £15 - £74.50
Concessions available for Over 65s, Equity/BECTU/WGGB, Unwaged
Students and audiences aged 25 and under on all Thursday and Saturday performances.
Monday Tickets:
Monday Tickets at the Royal Court have been legendary since 1979. Every Monday, all tickets are just £15 in both the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and Upstairs.
- Available to book from 9am on the day of the show
- Online only
- Limited number available in advance for Royal Court Friends/Members, Writers Card+ Members & Supporters
Ticket FAQs
Can I get a refund or exchange my ticket?
Refunds are only offered if a performance is cancelled.
If you can’t attend, we can offer:
- An exchange to another performance
- A credit voucher valid for 1 year
Just let us know at least 48 hours before the show.
We do not offer partial refunds. If your chosen price band is sold out for the new date, we’ll match you to the closest available band instead.
Ticket Resale & Reissue
If a show has sold out:
- We’re happy to try and resell your tickets (once all other house tickets are gone)
- If we’re successful, you’ll be issued credit valid for 1 year
- Tickets can’t be resold via unauthorised third-party sellers
Tickets transferred or sold via unauthorised channels may be cancelled without refund, and any Royal Court memberships may be revoked.
Ticket Delivery
- We use e-tickets - show them on your phone or tablet
- Don’t have a device or printer? Let Box Office staff know when you arrive, and we’ll help
Age Guidance
Most shows are suitable for ages 14+, though some may have a higher recommendation. Check the individual production page for guidance.
Fees & Charges
- No booking fees on e-tickets booked directly through us
- All tickets include a £1.50 restoration levy, supporting essential maintenance and upkeep
- Tickets sold for other venues (e.g. West End transfers) may include a booking fee
- Third-party agents may charge additional fees
Your Visit: Theatre Terms
The management reserves the right to:
- Refuse admission or ask audience members to leave
- Deny latecomers entry or delay it until an appropriate break
- Cancel performances due to cast illness or external issues (without liability beyond a refund or exchange)
- Note that trigger warnings and content advisories are listed online and emailed to bookers ahead of the show
Access
Access Performances:
BSL Interpreted: Sat 23 May, 7:30
Captioned: Fri 22 May,7:30pm and Sat 30th May, 6:30pm
Audio-described: Sat 30 May, 1:30pm
Chilled: Sat 23rd May, 1:30pm