Catastrophe (1982)

Jump To Section {{ section }}

Samuel Beckett

Play script

English

A short play by Samuel Beckett, dedicated to Václav Havel who was imprisoned at the time. The play enacts a rehearsal, the final preparation of an icon of suffering designed to elicit maximum audience response. The silent human (“P”) is set on a plinth where the Assistant has prepared him for final viewing by the autocratic Director, who sits fur-clad in an armchair and rehearses her decisions (Ackerley and Gontarski, 85).

Adapted for film for the Beckett on Film project. Pinter played the role of the Director.

Date of Composition: 1982

Linked Works

No Linked works have been added to this work record yet.

Linked Places

No Linked places have been added to this work record yet.

Publishers

Faber and Faber Ltd on (2006)

Complete Dramatic Works

Characters

Director (Catastrophe) (Age: Unknown, Male)

Female Assistant (Catastrophe) (Age: Unknown, Female)

Protagonist (Catastrophe) (Age: Unknown, Male)

Luke (Catastrophe) (Age: Unknown, Male)

Resources

No resources have been added to this work record yet.

Sources

The Faber Companion to Samuel Beckett

C. J. Ackerley and S. E. Gontarski, The Faber Companion to Samuel Beckett, (London: Faber and Faber, 2006), p 85

Academic book

Play summary source.