Mora Grey worked alongside Samuel Beckett at the Royal Court Theatre in the 1970s. 
What was he really like? We find out as we see Beckett in a theatre setting, deeply troubled by the latest production of his acclaimed play Krapp's Last Tape with Albert Finney in the title role.
It is the day of the first performance.
Beckett's looming presence disturbs the Director, the Designer, the Wardrobe Mistress, the Flyman and the Actor.
This disturbance leads to unexpected and tragic events.
This play is based on a true story.


Reviews

Beckett's Last Act is an engrossing and many layered play. Her own play is thick with references to personal crises and obsessive disorder. It's very existence, like it's contents, raises the Krapp-like question of what is true, what happened and what is a construction of the memory.....The figure of Beckett cannot help but have a spectral element, never mind the accuracy of Dave Marsden's portrayal. It is rather as if the playwright has now graduated to the level of theatre ghost and has come back to haunt his own legacy. What unfolds in the 100 minutes of the play is a series of monologues so full of references to the other characters in the story that they amount to a virtual or remotely conducted conversation....An excellent cast. What would Beckett have made of all this? My view is he would have been gripped. He would have laughed too.

Alan Franks
* * * * London Theatre1.com


The interior dialogue of the psyche and particularly that of playwright Samuel Beckett is explored in this play by Isosceles Productions, which is dramatically presented through a series of monologues...The lack of direct interaction between the actors adds tension, menace and even humour to the production....The audience is caught up in deeply personal revelations made by the characters...and with all the characters the audience is drawn into the emotion of their situation, their egos, isolation, febrile fears and a whole gamut of human passion....Dave Marsden gives a convincing portrayal of Beckett, his ego, his creativity and perception of his own mortality... Overall this was great thought-provoking theatre which you feel will inform your next viewing of a Beckett play.

Helen Smith
Daily Info, Oxford


The sound of a ticking clock separating each monologue neatly reminds us of the play's imminent deadlines, whilst emphasizing the characters' existential isolation. In the end, the understated revelation of a tradgedy jars the audience, leaving questions unresolved, but in an intriguing and stimulating way. Both the production and cast were exemplary, with Dave Marsden's Beckett a stand out performance.

Colin Gibson
Hastings Independent


We suggested (to the BBC) that we could also produce a new production of 'Krapp's Last Tape' to go along with your terrific play ....it is an excellent drama and we do hope you will find more outlets for it in the theatre....we felt it would have been a great and rather unique 75 minutes on the air.

Martin Jarvis, Jarvis and Ayres Productions


I found the show a fascinating insight into, not only a great artist like Beckett, but also into the machinations behind the scenes in every theatre. The monologues really worked as a vehicle to get the story across and each of the actors delivered with style, skill and subtlety to give us an excellent evening's theatre.

Paul McLaughlin - General Manager, Subscription Rooms, Stroud.

 

I want to thank you for a wonderful play and performance. It was what theatre should be, thoughtful, menacing, moving and dramatic....The actors were brilliant and the music was utterly enhancing to the whole experience.

Karen Wood (Riverside Theatre Coleraine)


My sincere thanks for bringing such an exellent performance to the Heron Theatre on friday. The response from all members of the audience was very positive.

Stuart Newton (Artistic Director, Heron Theatre)


World Premier 9, 10,11 October 2014 Yvonne Arnaud Mill Studio Guildford

This show has since been performed at:

The Burton Taylor Studio , Oxford
The Subscription Rooms, Stroud

Heron Theatre, Cumbria

The Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast
Kino Teatr, St Leonards On Sea
Burren International College of Art, Ballyvaughan
Riverside Theatre, Coleraine
Market Place Theatre, Armagh


AUDIENCE REACTION

'What can I say? Bloody brilliant! Extremely moving and great characterisation.'


'I so empathised with the play and it left me reflective and quiet. Congrats to you all and thanks for a thought provoking evening.'


'Wonderful performance.'


'It was facinating.'


'I thought it worked very well and it was a powerful performance.'


'Excellent! Bravo Mora.'


'Congratulations! Bloody marvellous. It was wonderful.'


'Brilliant performances.'


'Excellent and interesting play - a triumph.'


'Really enjoyed seeing it.'


'Fantastic show - powerful performances.'


'It was a fascinating piece of theatre to watch.'


'Believe me it had a lot to say, very multi-layered and moving....there was an integrity to the playing which is a naturalness as opposed to artifice.'


'Show was tremendous, I loved it - a wonderful experience.'


'The staging was magical.'


'Brilliant acting - riveting performance.'


'A lovely play, totally absorbing.'


'Very excellent play, destined for greatness.'