Samuel Beckett festival makes a triumphant return to Liverpool

Adrian Dunbar, a renowned actor, and director, is set to bring Beckett: Unbound 2024, an international festival celebrating the works of iconic writer Samuel Beckett, to Liverpool this summer from May 30th to June 2nd, 2024. This festival, which follows the success of Beckett: Confined in 2022, explores Beckett’s fascination with communication and technology’s traversal of time and distance through a diverse program of theater, music, film, dance, photography, and discussion.

Curated by Adrian in collaboration with the University’s Institute of Irish Studies and the University of Notre Dame, Beckett: Unbound features world premieres of specially commissioned shows. One highlight of the festival includes Liz Roche’s performance of Sentient, a major new full-length work for six dancers, saxophone, and the ondes Martenot at the Everyman Theatre.

The festival will also showcase a selection of Beckett’s major stage works, including the performance of Pas Moi/Not I in both French and English, and the radio play All That Fall at Toxteth’s atmospheric reservoir. Additionally, Krapp’s Last Tape/La Dernière Bande will be presented in French with English surtitles at the University’s Stanley Theatre.

Furthermore, the festival will feature a unique Beckett radio play, Rough for Radio II, recorded by inmates at HMP Liverpool and played at The Tung Auditorium. The festival concludes with a free concert of contemporary theater and dance productions at The Tung on June 2nd.

Funded by various organizations including the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and Culture Ireland, Beckett: Unbound 2024 promises to be a mesmerizing celebration of one of the 20th century’s most celebrated authors.

Adrian Dunbar, known for his work in both television and theater, is spearheading this extraordinary event that will run from May 30th to June 2nd, with performances at various locations across Liverpool. Tickets for each event can be booked online. Press tickets are available, and academics from the Institute for Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool are available for broadcast interviews to discuss the festival. For more information, please contact catrin.owen@liverpool.ac.uk or alison.cornmell@liverpool.ac.uk.