The Questors presentKrapp's Last Tape & Rockaby
by Samuel BeckettA double bill
Krapp’s Last Tape (1958), written a year after Endgame which was recently played at The Questors, is a further example of Beckett’s minimalist representation of the human condition. As with the earlier play, thematic bleakness is counterpointed by flashes of physical and verbal comedy.
Rockaby (1981) is one of Beckett’s shorter, late works, resonantly described by Billie Whitelaw, who acted in a number of these, as ‘animated paintings’. It is a rhythmic performance poem, a heartfelt reiteration of loneliness and isolation.
The two one-act, one-actor plays offer diverse spins on the early incorporation of recording tape technology into live theatre. In Krapp’s Last Tape, the younger Krapp - on tape - is in effect a distinct, and contrasting, character. In Rockaby the disembodied voice of the old woman reiterates a narrative of alienation and the unrewarded search for "another like herself", as the time of the onstage character winds down.
Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes, including a 15 minute interval.
Suitable for ages 14+
All tickets £5
