Not I by Samuel Beckett Royal Court 22 to 24 May

Samuel Beckett’s one–woman piece Not I, is at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs from 22, 23, 24 May, 40 years after the theatre held its UK premiere.

It is an 'intense monologue', set in a pitch-black space lit by a single beam of light. A disembodied female mouth floats eight feet above the stage and delivers a stream of consciousness, spoken, as Beckett directed, at the speed of thought.

Lisa Dwan performs the piece in nine minutes – the fastest it has ever been performed. She was tutored in the role by Billie Whitelaw, who originally performed the part at its 1973 premiere and was personally coached for the part by Beckett himself.

After Dwan’s performance, there will be a screening of an interview with Whitelaw on her experiences of performing of Not I, followed by a panel discussion with Lisa Dwan, theatre director Roger Michell and special guests with an audience Q&A afterwards.

- by Darren Dalglish