Lisa Dwan’s critically-acclaimed star performances at the Royal Court Theatre in London were successfully sold-out, and now we have the privilege of watching her in this Beckett trilogy at the Lowry in September in Not I, Footfalls and Rockaby under the direction of Walter Asmus.
Asmus knows Beckett better than anyone in the profession as he actually worked with Beckett in theatre and television, as his assistant, and later they collaborated on many productions until his death in 1989. Thus, we can look forward to these pieces showing us intense insight into how Beckett would have wanted his writings to be presented to us, as well as how Lisa Dwan undertakes the great challenge as Mouth in Not I.
Not I was originally performed by Jessica Tandy in 1970s New York and Billie Whitelaw in 1970s London. According to Professor James Knowlson, a friend and biographer of Beckett, Not I should work at speed on the nerves of the audience, rather than their intellect. Billie Whitelaw has also coached Lisa Dwan in how to perform Beckett’s characters, adding a further direct connection to Beckett.
Footfalls, which also originally starred Billie Whitelaw (as did Rockaby), focuses on the middle-aged May’s conversation with her sick mother. Rockaby, one of Beckett’s last works, explores the theme of loneliness and finality through the character of a prematurely old woman with unkempt grey hair sitting on a rocking chair.
The tour is visiting the Lowry Theatre in Salford from 23 to 27 September and will go onto tour internationally.
Words: Sadia Habib
Images: Courtesy of The Lowry
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