The University of Reading offers a vibrant research culture for anyone interested in Beckett Studies.
Postgraduate Studies in Beckett
Supporting the work of the Beckett International Foundation, there are Beckett specialists in the Department of English Literature and the French, Philosophy and Film, Theatre & Television Departments. Beckett’s work features on several undergraduate and MA courses. There is a lively postgraduate community at Reading, which benefits from the Beckett collection as well as the expertise of Beckett scholars working in a variety of fields. Postgraduates wishing to study Beckett’s work are invited to contact the relevant departments, or to contact the Foundation for further advice.
Scholars and students working in Reading are engaged in a number of exciting research projects, many of which are international, collaborative initiatives.
The Samuel Beckett Research Centre ‘People‘ page provides up to date information on the research interests and projects currently taking place at the University of Reading.
Research Projects
The Beckett Digital Manuscript Project (BDMP) is an international collaborative initiative which aims to establish genetic electronic editions of Beckett’s manuscripts. It is supervised by the Beckett International Foundation at Reading, the Centre for Manuscript Genetics at the University of Antwerp and the Harry Ransom Center in Austin. To access the site, click here.
The Staging Beckett Project (2012-2015) created a searchable database of Beckett’s drama productions that can be accessed via the Staging Beckett website. Staging Beckett draws on original archival material in the University of Reading’s world-leading Beckett Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Theatre and Performance archives in London, and other archive collections across Britain, Ireland and international archives such as the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin. The website includes information on upcoming UK productions of Beckett’s plays, a blog on aspects of staging Beckett, edited interviews with practitioners, and learning materials. The AHRC funded project has enabled ongoing research into staging Beckett in the UK and Ireland, and beyond.