Staging Beckett in London presents the first dedicated performance history of Samuel Becketts drama in London theatre culture.
This open access volume argues that Samuel Beckett has held a long and varied relationship with London and its theatres. Although Dublin and Paris hold obvious connections with Becketts life, London is the city that has proved the most consistent home for his drama, the origin for many of his major collaborations and where his legacy continues to flourish today. By tracing these performance histories through original findings in international archives, interviews with key practitioners and framing the performances in their historical and cultural contexts, this history offers new readings and insights into productions of Becketts plays in London.
From the Royal Court to the National Theatre and from Riverside Studios to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Londons major, marginal, subsidised and commercial venues have staged Becketts drama since Waiting for Godots English language premiere in 1955. Beckett collaborated with many significant directors, designers and actors, such as Peter Hall, Jocelyn Herbert and Billie Whitelaw, while high-profile stars, including Fiona Shaw and Ian McKellen, have played their part in the proliferation of his work since his death. This rich performance history comprises world premieres and festivals of Becketts 19 stage plays against a historical backdrop of key cultural and global events, from the Lord Chamberlains censorship of British theatre to Covid-19 lockdowns and re-openings.
The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the University of Reading Library.
