Samuel Beckett the Sportsman

How theatre became an 'extreme physical feat'

Billie Whitelaw as Mouth in Samuel Beckett's Not I

Writing for The Guardian, Samuel Beckett's authorised biographer James Knowlson reflects on the role that sport plays in the writer's work: 'At first glance, sport seems out of place in Beckett's world. His characters emerge as physical derelicts, down-and-outs, failures ("Fail again, fail better"). In his Waiting for Godot monologue, Lucky speaks of "sports of all sorts autumn summer winter winter tennis of all kinds, hockey of all sorts", only to point out that "in spite of the tennis" man still "shrinks and dwindles". Beckett looks beyond the exhilaration and triumph to the decline and debility that awaits us all, even record-breakers.' [Read More]

Also at A Piece of Monologue:

• Writers: Samuel Beckett
• Happy Days: Enniskillen International Beckett Festival
• Billie Whitelaw on Beckett and Play
• Working with Samuel Beckett
• Samuel Beckett's Not I