Stephen Rea is impressive in this new production of Samuel Beckett’s play
Presented by: Landmark Productions
Reviewed: 28 February, 2025
Krapp’s Last Tape is one of Samuel Beckett’s most personal and frequently performed plays. The one-act, one-man piece has been played by the likes of Michael Gambon and John Hurt and in this latest showing Adelaide Festival is treated to a masterful performance from Stephen Rea.
Rea is known for his roles in V for Vendetta and The Crying Game and shines in this short but thematically dense play. Rea took the initiative and recorded the younger voices himself years in advance, just in case he were to take on the role of Krapp. Adding his own younger voice unscored the distance between the Krapp on stage and his previous version.
Each year on his birthday, Krapp records a tape of the main events during the year. Before he records one for his 69th birthday he listens back thirty years to hear what he was like as a 39-year-old.
Krapp’s Last Tape is set in a single room with a desk and a downlight. The lights fade on to slowly reveal the elder Krapp sitting at the table. This production is on a raised platform on the stage and with the lighting gives extra dimension to the space.
The play is listed as a one-character show, however, with the tapes and younger version of the same person it feels as if the stage is shared. The narrative has circular characteristics. The younger Krapp mocks the even younger version of himself while describing in detail romantic affairs and leaving goals for his future.
The elder Krapp grunts at the optimism but Rea’s subtle motions and accents in his movements betrays the elder’s grumblings to underscore their loneliness and dreams for the past. Rea’s live words are short, leaving the performer to tease out in smaller motions and reactions. It’s even without the words that Rea hits the comedic nods in the play.
Krapp’s Last Tape at the Adelaide Festival is directed by Vicky Featherstone and runs until 8th March before it heads on to London.
Reviewed by Alex Dunkin
Photo credit: Pato Cassinoni
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 27 February – 8 March, 2025
Duration: 55 mins
Tickets: $35 – $109 (plus booking fees)
Bookings: https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/krapps-last-tape/
More News
