The Dumb Waiter

Performance history

Frankfurt

The world premiere was in Frankfurt as Der Stumme Diener in February 1959 with Rudolf H. Krieg as Ben and Werner Berndt as Gus.[8]

Malibu

At Malibu Junior High School sometime in 1979 Emilio Estevez staged this one-act play with young friend and fellow classmate Jeff Lucas. Jeff Lucas played Ben and Emilio Estevez played Gus.

London

The first performance in London was in January 1960, as part of a double bill with Pinter's first play The Room, at the Hampstead Theatre Club, directed by James Roose-Evans, with Nicholas Selby as Ben and George Tovey as Gus. The production transferred to the Royal Court Theatre in March 1960.[9]

In 1989 a revival at the Theatre Royal Haymarket was directed by Bob Carlton, with Peter Howitt as Ben and Tim Healy as Gus.

In 2007 a revival at the Trafalgar Studios was directed by Harry Burton, with Jason Isaacs as Ben and Lee Evans as Gus.

In 2013 a revival at The Print Room was directed by Jamie Glover, with Clive Wood as Ben and Joe Armstrong as Gus.

In 2019 the play was part of a season of Pinter's one-act plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre, directed by Jamie Lloyd with Danny Dyer as Ben and Martin Freeman as Gus.

In 2020 a 60th anniversary revival at the Hampstead Theatre, directed by Alice Hamilton with Alec Newman as Ben and Shane Zaza as Gus, had an extended run in a COVID secure setting with the audience masked and socially distanced.

Oxford

In 2004 The Oxford Playhouse presented The Dumb Waiter and Other Pieces by Harold Pinter, directed by Douglas Hodge with Jason Watkins as Ben and Toby Jones as Gus.

Liverpool

In 2012 a young Mark Pallister took on the role of Gus as original cast member the now Famous Lee Evans was unavailable due to his touring schedule.

Mark went on to take further acting roles however it is not known if he is still pursuing an acting career today.

Chicago

In 2012 The TUTA Theater company presented The Dumb Waiter.[10]

Toronto

In April 2021, the Crane Creations Theatre Company led a play reading of The Dumb Waiter in its monthly play reading event. Hosted by a group of professional theatre artists, the Play Date event aims to spread awareness of playwrights and playwrighting from around the globe.


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