Going Legit

Max’s first significant dramatic role was a tour-de-force in the surreal Ubu Roi at the Royal Court in 1966, as the psychotic Pere Ubu, created by French playwright Alfred Jarry. His next venture into the ‘legit’ was
in Arnold Wesker’s 'The Old Ones'
at the same theatre in 1972, but his real emergence as an actor of considerable depth was at Greenwich Theatre in 1974 where he brought a fresh perspective to failed music hall artiste Archie Rice in
John Osborne’s 'The Entertainer', directed by the author. He followed this with a masterful performance
in Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape (1975), also at Greenwich, directed by Patrick Magee for whom it had been originally written.

His definitive Vladimir in Waiting For Godot at the Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and at The Roundhouse (1980) was acclaimed, and he eventually read Malone Dies at the Edinburgh Festival in 1984 as well
as appearing in a re-make of Beckett’s Film, which had originally starred Buster Keaton.

He proved to be a leading interpreter of Beckett’s work and he and the great playwright became friends.

Max Wall was also in demand
for dramatic work in films and TV during his final years.