THE GUTHRIE THEATER PRESENTS AN IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE PRODUCTION PRODUCED BY OCTOPUS THEATRICALS

A one-man tribute to a literary legend

Tony Award-winning actor and master clown Bill Irwin has spent a lifetime captivated by Samuel Beckett. The depth of his devotion to the famed Irish writer plays out onstage in a nonstop display of jovial verbal and physical comedy that has become Irwin’s signature. With little more than a microphone and a podium, Irwin lets the audience in on the creative process of engaging with Beckett’s undeniably rich language, providing a primer in clowning along the way. In addition to exploring texts by one of the most influential theater voices of the past century, audiences will fall in love with Irwin’s unique and endearing approach to Beckett’s work.

This performance is the culmination of a partnership between the Celtic Junction Arts Center and the Guthrie Theater which includes: a Beckett article published in the Celtic Junction Arts Review, an Irish Studies Round Table focusing on Beckett, a seminar on The Irish Beckett, a Conversation with Bill Irwin, and finally, the February 18th performance of On Beckett conceived and performed by BILL IRWIN. The show takes place in the McGuire Proscenium at the Guthrie Theater. Celtic Junction Arts Center patrons receive 50% off tickets to this showing only. Get up to four TICKETS with discount code CELTIC.

What critics are saying

“A delicious piece of theater … a playful, intimate experiment conducted by a master practitioner” – Sara Holdren, New York Magazine

“A better guide to playing Beckett would be hard to find. And when it comes to the clowning elements, a masterclass is in session.” – Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times

“An homage to [Beckett] that is both deeply personal and defiantly, even exuberantly, accessible” – Elysa Gardner, New York Stage Review