Rockaby

Summary

1982 BBC presentation of the opening night of Rockaby by Samuel Beckett in Buffalo, New York, accompanied by discussion on the programme as part of an Arena programme. Part of the Samuel Beckett season.

Theatre play

Rockaby by Samuel Beckett [more information]

Play synopsis

A short, one-woman play. An old woman’s voice responds to the rhythms of her rocking chair as she meditates on the passage of her life.

Production history

First staged on 8 April 1981 at the State University of New York at Buffalo, starring Billie Whitelaw and directed by Alan Schneider. A documentary film, Rockaby, by D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus records the rehearsal process and first performance. This production went on to be performed at the Annex at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, and, in December 1982, at the Cottesloe, Royal National Theatre, London. Adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockaby.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 14 December 1982

Time

10.05-10.55pm

Channel

BBC2

Production company

BBC

Credits

Theatre Director

Alan Schneider

Playwright

Samuel Beckett

Cast

Billie Whitelaw

Additional details

Play tags

ageing

Audiovisual sources

Title

Rockaby (BBC, 1982)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 9 December 1982 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article, p. 21; listing, p. 47