In 1988, with the support of Samuel Beckett, James Knowlson established the Beckett International Foundation as a charitable trust. The Foundation's objective is to promote the work of Samuel Beckett and to look after the Beckett Collection at the University of Reading, which originated in the Samuel Beckett Exhibition of 1971, and is now the most extensive collection of Beckett materials in the world.
To celebrate 25 years of the Foundation, the University hosted an academic conference with established and emerging scholars. There was also an exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the premiere of En attendant Godot and film screenings. The highlight of our evening programme was a reading of Beckett's poetry and prose by Barry McGovern, world renowned for his interpretations of Samuel Beckett's work.