BECKETT PLAYS PLACED ON FILM

FOLLOWING the success of the Beckett Festival at the Gate Theatre in 1991, Michael Colgan, Artistic Director at The Gate, came up with the idea of filming all 19 of the Samuel Beckett’s plays.
Having secured the rights from the Beckett estate, and with financial backing from RTÉ, Channel Four and the Irish Film Board, Colgan teamed up with Alan Moloney to produce the series, which includes full-length features and a series of shorts.
They managed to attract a collection of filmmakers and actors to the project. The selection of directors brings together those with a keen sense of stage performance, such as David Mamet and Sir Richard Eyre; distinguished filmmakers, Neil Jordan, Atom Egoyan, Patricia Rozema and Karel Reisz; and young Irish directors, Damien O'Donnell, Conor McPherson and Kieron J. Walsh.
Allowing each to pick their own cast resulted in an astonishing list of actors: Julianne Moore, Rosaleen Linehan; Michael Gambon; John Hurt; David Thewlis; Harold Pinter; Rebecca Pidgeon; Milo O'Shea; David Kelly; Richard Johnston and in his last film performance, Sir John Gielgud.
The 'Beckett on Film' week at the IFC in Dublin, which runs from February 2 to the 8, provides a unique opportunity to see all 19 films in the series. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance to discuss their work on the project. (CD)