Eleutheria―Notes on Freedom between Offstage and Self-reference

Abstract

In this article, Shimon Levy argues that the critical concepts used in the interpretation of Beckett's writings for the stage should emanate from the experience of the performance rather than be imposed, ready-made, from the outside. Thus, he opposes theatricality to theoretical extrapolations on the text. Relying on his experience as a stage director and translator of Beckett, he proposes to observe two determining factors in the constitution of Beckett's playwrighting: self-reference and the off-stage. For that purpose, he concentrates on Beckett's first play: Eleutheria.

Keywords

• dramatic techniques
• holy
• Off-Stage
• space
• self-reference
• freedom