Krapp's Last Tape Tickets

In the 1950s, Samuel Beckett penned some of his most famous plays, with “Waiting for Godot” and “Endgame” both managing to find a lasting audience. However, it is another one of his plays from this decade that will be turning heads at the Duchess Theatre in 2010 and it takes the form of 1958’s “Krapp’s Last Tape”, which was previously staged at the Gate Theatre in Dublin with Michael Gambon in the lead role and Artistic Director Michael Colgan in the director’s chair. Both of these established names make the transition to the West End and it is likely to be a much-talked-about production when it runs from September to November 2010.

Director Michael Colgan, as Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, has been behind some acclaimed shows at the Dublin venue. Many of these have been previous performances of Samuel Beckett’s plays, in addition to the likes of “Faith Healer” and various works of Harold Pinter.

And his tenure has also seen him work previously with Michael Gambon, who is no stranger to the Gate Theatre following the likes of “No Man’s Land” and “Eh Joe”, both of which transferred to a London theatre at a later date. The acclaimed actor has enjoyed an extensive career on the stage with credits that stretch back to the 1960s with early appearances at the Old Vic when it was the home of the National Theatre. His recent stage credits include “Henry IV Parts 1 and 2” at the Olivier National Theatre, Beckett’s “Endgame” at the Albery Theatre and “The Caretaker” at the Comedy Theatre. Meanwhile, audiences will undoubtedly remember him for screen roles such as “The Singing Detective” and movies like “Sleepy Hollow” and the “Harry Potter” series.

In “Krapp’s Last Tape” he takes on the role of Krapp, the inward looking man who is the only character in Beckett’s single-act play. Krapp has an annual birthday tradition to record his memories onto tape of the last year of his life and having done this or some time has accumulated a wealth of recordings. As we meet him on his 69th birthday he is sitting down to repeat the tradition once again, but this time he delves into previous recordings, listening back to old memories and stumbling upon something that will stir him emotionally – a tender memory that will turn his feelings upside down as he re-evaluates his life and his journey to the present.

“Krapp’s Last Tape” follows on from “The Secret of Sherlock Holmes” at the Duchess Theatre when it runs from Wednesday 15th September 2010 until Saturday 20th November 2010.