The Beckett International Foundation at the University of Reading presented the only UK performance of Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape. Rick Cluchey returned to the role of Krapp which he first performed in 1963 in San Quentin Prison where he was imprisoned for a decade. The play remains one of Beckett's major plays and was directed by Beckett himself on several occasions.
The play remains one of Beckett’s major plays (along with Waiting for Godot and Endgame) and was directed by Beckett himself on several occasions.
Dr Mark Nixon, Co-Director of The Beckett International Foundation/Department of English and American Literature, said:
"This is a rare opportunity to see the founding member of the San Quentin Drama Workshop, Rick Cluchey, perform in a role which he first played while in prison in the 1960s. Samuel Beckett directed Rick Cluchey in Krapp’s Last Tapein Berlin in 1977."
Krapp is the single character of Krapp’s Last Tape. He is 69, isolated, near-sighted, and cynical. Krapp’s tradition is to record a new tape on each birthday, in order to review the events of the previous year and comment on the events of years past.
The Beckett International Foundation is a charitable trust at the University, and administers the world’s largest collection of resources relating to Samuel Beckett. Based on an exhibition mounted in 1971, the collection grew rapidly, in large part through the patronage and generosity of Beckett himself, who continued to donate material until his death in 1989. Material is constantly being added, both by donation and by purchase.
The play was performed on Friday, 11 December, at 8pm at the Bob Kayley Studio Theatre on the Bulmershe Campus, University of Reading.
