Press Release

Renowned Gate Theatre of Dublin, Ireland brings celebrated Beckett classics to the Annenberg Center

October 27, 2011

(Philadelphia, October 27, 2011) —Dublin’s acclaimed Gate Theatre returns to the Annenberg Center with a double-bill of two one-act plays at the Annenberg Center by the great Irish modernist writer, playwright and humorist Samuel Beckett. Deft humor meets the bleak and bizarre in stage adaptations considered to be two of Beckett’s most important works, Endgame and Watt, November 8-13, 2011, starring the world’s leading Beckett interpreter, Barry McGovern. Performances of Endgame take place on Tuesday, November 8 at 7 PM; Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, November 12 at 2 PM; and Sunday, November 13 at 2 PM. Performances of Watt take place Wednesday, November 9 at 7:30 PM; Friday, November 11 at 7:30 PM; and Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 PM. Tickets for the performances are $20-$48. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office.

Endgame tells the amusing tale about the aged and blind Hamm and his servant Clov, co-existing in a mutually dependent and fractious relationship, with only Hamm’s legless parents for company. Hailed as one of Beckett’s most important works and written in the style associated with the Theatre of the Absurd, the play focuses on the themes of repetition, time, isolation and existence.

Called “ominous and funny” by the Irish Independent and “simply outstanding” by the Guardian, Watt is the extraordinary story of an itinerant character who journeys one day to go work in the remote country home of Mr. Knott. The bizarre adventures of Watt and his struggle to make sense of the world around him are told with elegant simplicity, immense pathos and explosive humor.

The world’s leading Samuel Beckett interpreter, Barry McGovern has had a long history with the Gate Theatre. He has played Estragon and Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, Clov in Endgame and Willie in Happy Days. He has also played Lucky in Waiting for Godot, Krapp in Krapp’s Last Tape, Harry in Ember, Fox in Rough for Radio II, Words in Words and Music and directed All That Fall. His one-man show I’ll Go On (derived from the novels Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnamable) was produced by the Gate in 1985 and has played worldwide, most recently at the 2008 Lincoln Center Festival. McGovern has lectured, written and given master classes on Beckett’s work and is frequently asked to give readings of the poetry and prose.

McGovern speaks of these two works with the utmost respect: Of Watt, McGovern recalls the artistic process of adapting the piece to stage: “I wanted to get the whole thrust of the narrative such as it is, and maybe make people interested in reading the novel for themselves.” Of Endgame, McGovern details his affinity for the work: “There’s a special fascination for me of Endgame. It’s the first play I did of his. I remember saying that to Beckett, that I wanted to do Endgame again, that it was my favorite play of his, and he said “mine too.””

The Gate Theatre has been, artistically and architecturally, a landmark building for over 250 years. Established as a theatre company in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir, the Gate offered Dublin audiences an introduction to the world of European and American theatre and also to classics from the modern and Irish repertoire. It was with the Gate that Orson Welles, James Mason and Michael Gambon began their prodigious acting careers. The company performed last at the Annenberg Center in 2006 to sold-out houses with its acclaimed production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.

Today, in its 83rd year, the Gate has become unique in that it has had only two artistic directors. In 1983, the directorship passed to Michael Colgan under whose guidance the theatre continues to represent Ireland at the very highest level of artistic endeavor, receiving numerous invitations each year to major festivals on every continent. The Gate has a close association with the works of Samuel Beckett, the late Harold Pinter, Brian Friel and Conor McPherson to name but a few. Having presented many major festivals, both internationally and at home, the Gate continues to develop, nurture and promote the works of a diverse range of playwrights and is committed to delivering the exceptional quality productions that audiences have come to expect.

This performance is part of the Annenberg Center’s Theatre Series. Media support for Gate Theatre performances

is provided by WHYY.

INSIGHTS – Performance Enhancement Events for Gate Theatre

11/8:

6:30 PM - “What keeps us going? The dialog.” Pre-show talk by Jim Schlatter, Ph.D., Chair, Penn Theatre Arts Program focusing on Beckett’s use of the pair in his theatre.

Post-show talkback with the cast and Enid Reid Whyte, M. Phil, Irish Theatre and Film (Trinity College, Dublin) and Manager of Pig Iron’s newly-opened School for Advanced Performance Training.

Post-performance 40th Anniversary toast
In celebration of our 40th Anniversary, we’ll be providing several opportunities for audience members to get to know each other and the Annenberg Center staff throughout the season. To kick off this celebratory season, we’ll be toasting the past 40 years of excellence and our exciting future with festive sparkling cider. Please join us immediately following this performance!

11/9:

7 PM - Pre-show talk with Jean-Michel Rabaté, Ph.D., Professor of English & Comparative Literature and Vartan Gregorian Professor in the Humanities at Penn and President of the American Samuel Beckett Studies Association.

Post-show talk with Watt director, Tom Creed and Professor Jean-Michel Rabaté.

11/10:

7 PM - Pre-show talk by Cary Mazer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Penn.

Post-show Q & A with the cast and Professor Cary Mazer.

11/11:

Post-show discussion of Beckett’s themes and Q & A with actor, Barry McGovern.