Samuel Beckett

Waiting for Godot, 1961 Odeon Theatre, Paris. Directed by Roger Blin and set by Alberto Giacometti.

Irish playwright, poet, writer, and critic, April 13, 1906 – December 22, 1989.
Widely considered one of the most influential Irish intellectuals of the 20th century, Samuel Beckett is a cornerstone of Modernity. Of his prolific body of work including poetry, critical essays, and prose, Beckett’s plays are the highlight. Waiting for Godot is Beckett’s most popular two act play that is famously about nothing but deeply considers the existential plight of humans. This play influenced many in contemporary culture, including Larry David and Seinfeld. During the 1961 Paris revival of Waiting for Godot, Beckett asked Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti to design the set, a scant tree by a country roadside. Of Beckett’s prodigious oeuvre, his lesser know short plays, radio plays, and experimental dance pieces are considered to be groundbreaking in Modern theatre and drama.