The Cockpit Theatre stages Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape

A new production of Samuel Beckett’s ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ at The Cockpit in London features actor Peter Marinker in a performance that explores themes of aging, memory, and cognitive function. Directed by Dave Wybrow, the production utilizes a unique technical approach where stage manager Marta Fossati provides live in-ear prompts to Marinker to assist with stage directions and dialogue.

This method adds a layer of realism to the play, as Marinker, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, interacts with a recording of his own voice from 1983. The performance creates a temporal dialogue between the actor’s younger self and his current self, blending the scripted play with the lived reality of the performer’s experience with memory loss.