July 14–17, 2022

Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage
Old Globe Theatre
Conrad Prebys Theatre Center

Conceived and performed by Bill Irwin

From Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street to George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway, two-time Tony Award-winner Bill Irwin is a film, television, and stage icon. In On Beckett, Irwin combines his renowned skill as a master clown and dramatic actor to explore a performer’s relationship to the works of Samuel Beckett, incorporating passages from the Irish writer and playwright’s most renowned work for an entertaining theatre event. Audiences and critics in New York and Los Angeles cheered Irwin’s acclaimed production with New York magazine calling it “Utterly delightful!”.

The New York Times named the Off Broadway run of On Beckett a Critic’s Pick and said the production was “captivating… radiant, live theater.” New York magazine raved, “A delicious piece of theater… a playful, intimate experiment conducted by a master practitioner… utterly delightful.” And The Daily Beast exclaimed, “Near-90 minutes of pleasure… Irwin’s physical comedy is delicious… a brilliant gateway to understanding [Beckett].”

Running time: One hour and 25 minutes with no intermission.

Program