Summaries

A performance of Samuel Beckett's 'Endgame', a play in which nothing happens, once - unlike Beckett's first play 'Waiting for Godot' in which nothing happens twice. It is not a play about chess, in any explicit sense, but it does feature a lovable if curmudgeonly old man in a dustbin. Generally accepted to be Beckett's bleakest play - indeed after it's 1957 English debut at the Royal Court, the TLS's Olivier Todd quipped that it made Waiting for Godot look like "a cheerful operetta". However, Beckett himself described it as "the favourite of my plays." Although the programme was not broadcast until 1991 it was recorded in 1989 prior to Beckett's death and had his blessing. This production is particularly notable as it is first full-length television performance of the play.

Details

Keywords
  • based on play
Genres
  • Drama
Release date Feb 26, 1991
Countries of origin United Kingdom
Language English
Production companies British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) The Open University

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 30m
Color Color
Sound mix Mono
Aspect ratio 1.33 : 1

Synopsis

All Filters