Overview

• Stephen Rea reprises Samuel Beckett’s 'Krapp’s Last Tape' at the Barbican, using recordings he made in 2009 to contrast with his live Irish-accented performance.
• The production, directed by Vicky Featherstone, originally premiered in Dublin in 2024 before transferring to the Barbican in May 2025.
• Critics praise the minimalist staging, featuring just a desk, lamp, recorder, tapes, and dictionary, as well as the stark lighting that creates a claustrophobic atmosphere.
• Rea’s performance is lauded for its disciplined and sardonic tone but criticized by some for lacking the emotional depth needed to fully capture Beckett’s existential themes.
• The contrast between Rea’s recorded English accent and live Irish accent underscores the play’s exploration of memory, identity, and the fractured self.