Michael Gambon stars in Beckett’s Eh Joe at Edinburgh International Festival
Gambon, whose long association with Beckett includes appearances in All That Fall, Krapp’s Last Tape and No Man’s Land will reprise his performance in the Gate Theatre Dublin production of Eh Joe, Beckett’s play originally written for television and adapted for stage by Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan in 2006.
According to press material, “Amplifying every emotion and thought, Joe’s face is projected on a large screen as Michael Gambon portrays the man haunted by his past brought to life through Penelope Wilton’s voice.”
Peter Egan, recently seen in Alan Bennett’s play People at the National Theatre, will perform in First Love, Beckett’s 1946 novella brought to the stage by director Michael Colgan. The darkly comic story explores a struggle between desire and emotional engagement of a man who finds himself homeless, sharing a canal-side spot with a prostitute.
The Beckett at the Festival season, which brings to the stage Beckett scripts originally written for radio, television or novels, is produced by the Gate Theatre Dublin and Pan Pan Theatre. Other theatre offerings include I’ll Go On, Embers and All That Fall.
The Beckett season also provides an opportunity to see the 19 films, by filmmakers, actors and artists, of the ‘Beckett on Film’ project produced by Michael Colgan and Alan Moloney, as well as events and talks related to Beckett’s work.
Gate Theatre Dublin artistic director Michael Colgan said: “Being guests at the Edinburgh International Festival; performing Beckett works rarely seen, being partners with Pan Pan and spending time with Jonathan Mills is as good as it gets. The Gate is excited to be coming, for the fifth time, to the Festival of Festivals.”
Jonathan Mills, the EIF director who steps down next year, added: “Michael Gambon and Peter Egan are both wonderful actors and will bring Festival audiences a very special experience in Edinburgh this August. We look forward to welcoming them. There are still some tickets available to our Beckett at the Festival season, so get online or on the phone and snap them up while you can.”
