Krapp's Last Tape

Synopsis

Krapp's Last Tape is one of the most openly autobiographical of Beckett's writings, where he once again confronts himself but without the searing, wrenching pain and exhaustion of previous works. The play, tinged with sadness and at times overwhelmingly emotional is a poignant reflection of Beckett himself.

Our Review:

Roz Carter - 29 March 2013

Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape is one of those strange theatrical gems that is rarely performed, and it’s easy to see why. Only 11 pages long and with barely 20 minutes of dialogue, the one-man play follows the unfortunately named Krapp on his 69th birthday making his annual memoir recording and listening to past years’ tapes. A poignant and complex play, the overall sadness that emanates from this play lingers long into the night and resonates with the audience.

As the audience are let in to the studio space they are greeted with the sight of an unconscious Krapp slumped over the desk. Rather than being awkward, this is an excellent introduction to the lonely world of this ageing firecracker. The play is full of subtle flashes of sadness which Fiona Baddeley’s production t...