Beckett was known for his dialogue, of course, but some of the most intriguing moments of any Beckett play are the silences. Similarly, Beckett’s most fascinating character may have been the one who never appeared onstage. And ever since Waiting For Godot, playwrights have been using the absent character in all sorts of ways. “Godot is the supreme example, but stage-shy characters can take many guises – despite not being there. They can expose hypocritical behaviour or create unease; they can trigger comedy or regret – or even encourage metaphysical speculation.”