Her 2003 performance as Winnie in Happy Days by Samuel Beckett was acclaimed by The Guardians Michael Billington, who praised Kendal for bringing a "genuine emotional reality" to the role. She starred as Esme in the West End revival of Amy's View (2006) by David Hare, which was her tenth collaboration with director Peter Hall. Hall's "sensitive direction" allowed Kendall to "resoundingly [achieve] both Esme's barbed humour and her sadness" according to Heather Neil of The Stage. She appeared in the West End as Florence Lancaster in Noël Coward's play The Vortex in 2008. In Variety, David Benedict felt that "playing her as a woman who overacts strains Kendal's ability to reveal truthful emotion in the final act".
Her 2003 performance as Winnie in Happy Days by Samuel Beckett was acclaimed by The Guardians Michael Billington, who praised Kendal for bringing a "genuine emotional reality" to the role. She starred as Esme in the West End revival of Amy's View (2006) by David Hare, which was her tenth collaboration with director Peter Hall. Hall's "sensitive direction" allowed Kendall to "resoundingly [achieve] both Esme's barbed humour and her sadness" according to Heather Neil of The Stage. She appeared in the West End as Florence Lancaster in Noël Coward's play The Vortex in 2008. In Variety, David Benedict felt that "playing her as a woman who overacts strains Kendal's ability to reveal truthful emotion in the final act".