Godot Speaks Ulster Scots in Irish Bog

Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" is set to receive its world premiere in the Ulster Scots language, a significant moment for the minority tongue. The production will be staged outdoors on the Antrim Plateau in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. This unique performance is part of the inaugural Samuel Beckett Biennale, a festival dedicated to exploring innovative interpretations of Beckett's plays over the next decade.

The choice of an "existential landscape" in the bleak upland bog aims to resonate with the play's themes, while the "forceful pronunciation and sound" of Ulster Scots promises a "whole new total register." Frank Ferguson, who is translating the play, described it as a "coming of age" for the language, demonstrating its confidence by tackling a global dramatic work. The working title for the translation is "Ettlin Fur Godot."

This initiative by Arts over Borders seeks to present Beckett's work in unexpected ways, including diverse language translations and productions with homeless actors, offering an alternative to the trend of casting major celebrities. The Samuel Beckett Biennale plans to stage events in rural and urban settings across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and England in 2026.