Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
George Devine
Dates Performed
Thursday 1st November 1962
Main House (Downstairs)
Play Details
Synopsis
A scorched, barren landscape dominated by a central mound, existing beyond time and place.
Winnie, a middle-aged woman buried first to her waist and later to her neck, maintains a relentlessly cheerful demeanour in the face of her absurd predicament. Her days are spent performing mundane rituals and engaging in one-sided conversations with her barely responsive husband, Willie, who lurks mostly unseen nearby.
Beckett’s tragicomic masterpiece is a stark exploration of human resilience in the face of inexorable decline. Through Winnie’s chattering monologues and her meticulous interactions with the contents of her handbag (including, ominously, a revolver), the play delves into themes of mortality, marriage, and the human need for meaning in an indifferent universe.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Brenda Bruce
Cast
Peter Duguid
Designer
Jocelyn Herbert
What our readers say
An absurdist comedy-drama steeped in surrealism, devoid of plot progression, with seemingly aimless dialogue. A piece where intentional inactivity takes center stage.
What’s it like reading this play now? How has it aged? What does it speak to?
A challenging read due to its absurdist style and stream-of-consciousness dialogue, accompanied by abundant stage directions. While it’s reminiscent of mid-20th century theatre, its themes remain relevant. It delves into women’s concealed struggles, the disparity between outward appearances and inner realities – pertinent in our social media age – and the timeless pursuit of happiness amidst routine.
If you like this play you might also like…?
Waiting for Godot also by Samuel Beckett and other absurd style theatre such as the work of Eugene Ionesco and Pinter’s memory plays e.g. “Landscape.”
