Sam Walters announced his production on the day of Prague world premiere of the play in The Independent: "I am delighted we got permission to put on the play, which I think is one of his best, very theatrical and very funny," Walters said. "For us, it is the culmination of a relationship that began way back in 1977."
Those journalists who had access to the text of the play before the opening speak about Leaving very favourably, as shown by the comments by David Caute in New Statesman:
“In the new play (ably translated by Paul Wilson), there are no Vaneks. Power and wealth have taken their toll. All the main characters are loquacious, burdened by swollen egos, by pride, by vanity. But Havel makes light of it - this is a comedy leaning towards tragedy via farce.“
Faber & Faber will be publishing the text of the play in the book form at the occasion of the English premiere.