Short answers, pulled from the story.
Samuel Beckett began writing the original French version of his play on the 9th of October 1948. He finished the manuscript just before the 29th of January 1949 during a period of intense personal and political turmoil.
The full theatrical premiere opened at the Théâtre de Babylone in Paris on the 5th of January 1953 under the direction of Roger Blin. This production operated on a shoestring budget with large battered valise found among city refuse cleared by theatre dresser husband.
Jean Martin originated the role of Lucky in Paris 1953 suggesting Parkinson's disease symptoms based on consultation with doctor Marthe Gautier working at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. Martin incorporated trembling voice patterns into rehearsals after receiving medical advice from Gautier who described how Parkinson's begins with noticeable shaking before speech becomes impossible.
Beckett drew inspiration from Caspar David Friedrich's painting Two Men Contemplating the Moon which he saw during a journey to Germany in 1936. This visual image helped shape the stark minimalistic setting of the play where two figures wait by a tree that grows leaves despite being only the next day.
A particularly significant production occurred inside Lüttringhausen Prison near Remscheid Germany starting the 29th of November 1953 when an inmate translated French edition into German obtaining permission to stage play. San Quentin State Prison California hosted one night staging November 1957 Herbert Blau directing four thousand inmates encountered performance profound impact spurred drama group producing seven Beckett works Rick Cluchey former prisoner played Vladimir Gallows room converted sixty-five seat theatre.