Peter Marinker on Performing with Alzheimer's in 'Krapp's Last Tape'

Performing with Alzheimer's: A New Perspective on 'Krapp's Last Tape'

Peter Marinker, an 84-year-old actor, is preparing to star in a new production of Samuel Beckett's haunting 1958 masterpiece, 'Krapp's Last Tape'. Marinker first played Krapp half a lifetime ago and will reuse the tapes he recorded in 1983. His portrayal of Krapp will be further coloured by his symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, which he was diagnosed with two years ago.

Marinker's Experience with Alzheimer's

Marinker describes his experience with Alzheimer's, saying, 'I would have these little dropouts on stage and I'd just pause and then carry on.' He adds that he had been playing Gandalf in a musical version of The Lord of the Rings at the Watermill when he started experiencing memory lapses. An understudy eventually took over, but Marinker notes that he 'did manage to learn the lines' for his role in the Netflix series 'Death by Lightning', although 'it was quite a challenge'.

The Impact of Alzheimer's on Performance

Marinker's performance in 'Krapp's Last Tape' will draw on his past experiences, including his own Krapp-like study at home 'filled with chaos and recordings of all the things I've done'. The play's director, Dave Wybrow, sees Marinker's involvement as an opportunity to revisit themes from 'Waiting for Godot', which they previously worked on together. Wybrow notes that 'Godot means something completely different if you've known people with Alzheimer's.'

A New Perspective on Beckett's Work

Marinker's performance will offer a unique perspective on Beckett's work, given his experiences with Alzheimer's. He quotes Dennis Potter, who said that we should consider our past with 'tender contempt', adding that 'that rang a bell'. Marinker's portrayal of Krapp will be a poignant exploration of regret, isolation, and the human condition.

The Production Details

'Krapp's Last Tape' will run at the Cockpit theatre in London from 2-5 September. Marinker will wear his wife's dressing gown and use his mother's voice for his Irish accent on stage. The production will feature Marinker sitting in a dark den, ritually listening to tapes he made as a younger man.