About the Samuel Beckett Summer School
Trinity College Dublin is honoured to present the annual Samuel Beckett Summer School, a weeklong celebration and exploration of the works of one of its most famous graduates. Each year we will invite the world’s foremost Beckett scholars to present new lectures and seminars on all aspects of Beckett’s works. We hope that the School will appeal to a wide range of Beckett enthusiasts by providing the opportunity to savour and study Beckett’s works in the context of the university where he began his intellectual life.
Each year the Summer School will offer ten lectures on a variety of topics; two of these lectures will be devoted to a specific theme, which will change from year to year. One of the four seminars will also address this theme. There will be two lectures every morning, and a choice of seminars will be available in the afternoon. In the first year we will run four seminars; enrolled students will choose which seminar they wish to attend when they register. In the evenings we will offer a range of activities, including cultural events, performances, field trips, an opening reception and a closing banquet.
The Patron of the Summer School is Edward Beckett.
The 2012 Summer School: 15 - 20 July
A public programme of special events designed for Irish audiences was a new initiative of the summer school in 2012. These events included a public interview with Anthony Cronin, Beckett's Irish biographer and noted poet; a screening of the documentary Silence to Silence introduced by Declan Kiberd, who wrote the film's script; and a reading from Beckett's prose and poetry by his renowned interpreter Barry McGovern. Two other theatrical events in the programme also have an Irish connection: Rosemary Pountney, an actress who performed in the Dublin premiere of Beckett's Footfalls and Not I in 1978, will give a specially staged performance of Footfalls and of Rockaby (English and French versions), and will speak about her work with Beckett in a post- show conversation. Pan Pan's dynamic, award-winning 2011 production of All that Fall (Best Lighting and Best Sound Design in the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2011) will be heard, seen and experienced in a special behind-the-scenes multimedia event with Director Gavin Quinn, Designer AedÃn Cosgrove, and Sound Designer Jimmy Eadie.
Public Programme of 2012 Beckett Summer School:
Tuesday 17 July, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Behind All That Fall - a multimedia presentation and conversation with Pan Pan featuring Gavin Quinn, Aedin Cosgrove, and Jimmy Eadie
at the Arts Technology Research Lab (ATRL) on Pearse Street ATRL
Wednesday 18 July, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Barry McGovern reads Beckett's poetry and prose
at the Graduate Memorial Building (GMB) in Front Square, TCD
Wednesday 18 July, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Anthony Cronin in conversation with Professor Terence Brown
at the Graduate Memorial Building (GMB) in Front Square, TCD
Thursday 19 July, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Rockaby/Berceuse and Footfalls featuring Rosemary Pountney, with discussion to follow
at the DU Players Theatre, Samuel Beckett Centre, TCD
All public events are only 10 euro, to be paid on the door, with reservations recommended by emailing sbss@usit.ie. An all-inclusive ticket granting admission to the above four events is only 30 euro.
Speakers included:
Enoch Brater, Terence Brown, Andrew Gibson, Jonathan Heron, Sean Kennedy, Declan Kiberd, Ulrika Maude, Emilie Morin, and Rosemary Pountney.
Seminars:
Beckett and Irish Culture, 1929-49 (Sean Kennedy)
Beckett's Manuscripts (Mark Nixon & Dirk Van Hulle)
Performance Workshop (Jonathan Heron)
The 2013 Summer School will begin planning of its programme and fee structure immediately after this year's school, so please watch this space if you are interested in attending a future Summer School!
The links below have further information about the 2012 programme and accommodation arrangements, as well as information on the inaugural 2011 Summer School.
We offer a bursary of free programme and accommodation for one international applicant. Applications for student bursaries for the 2013 summer school will re-open shortly.
Please click the links below for further information.
