BBC Radio 3: The Essay

Broadcasting from this year's Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival

Join BBC Radio 3 at the Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival, where we'll be exploring the life and work of the Irish literary great, Samuel Beckett. Five authors will be on stage to deliver reflections on Beckett's personality, the themes he explored in his plays, like Waiting for Godot, and the continuing impact of his now-famous work. Those taking part are drawn from the worlds of theatre, journalism, music, photography and literature, and the five talks will be recorded for broadcast on Radio 3's The Essay. Each recording will last approximately 60 minutes, with a chance for questions and discussion.

Essay 1 - Actor, Lisa Dwan, talks about performing Beckett and her encounters with some of the actors most closely associated with his work, including Billie Whitelaw and Barry McGovern.
Essay 2 - Journalist and commentator, Fintan O'Toole, reflects on themes of mortality and death in Samuel Beckett's work.
Essay 3 - Opera director, Netia Jones, explores the relationship between words and music, drawing on Samuel Beckett's play of the same title.
Essay 4 - Beckett expert, Dr Mark Nixon, talks about editing Echo's Bones, the Beckett short story recently published 80 years after it was written.
Essay 5 - Photographer, John Minihan, remembers the time he spent with Samuel Beckett while taking some of the best known portraits of the often reluctant subject.

All information is correct at time of publication. [Read More]