Michael Gambon and Peter Egan Star in 'Beckett at the Festival' Series, Now thru Aug 31

Michael Gambon and Peter Egan will star at the Edinburgh International Festival in Gate Theatre Dublin productions of Beckett this summer. Beckett at the Festival is a season of theatre performances and film showings at the 2013 Edinburgh International Festival 2013 focussing on the work of Samuel Beckett.

The season runs from today 23 to Saturday 31 August across the Royal Lyceum Theatre, King's Theatre and The Hub.

Michael Gambon will perform in EH JOE. Peter Egan also treads the boards of the Lyceum in FIRS LOVE.

Tickets are still available for Beckett at the Festival and can be bought online at www.eif.co.uk or at Hub Tickets on +44 (0)131 473 2000.

Michael Gambon, famous for roles on screen and stage including most recently Quartet, The King's Speech, and the Harry Potter movies, as well as All That Fall, Krapp's Last Tape and No Man's Land will reprise his acclaimed role in Eh Joe, Beckett's play originally written for television and successfully adapted for stage by Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan in 2006. Amplifying every emotion and thought, Joe's face is projected on a large screen as Michael Gambon portrays the man haunted by his past brought to life through Penelope Wilton's voice.

Peter Egan, star of Alan Bennett's new play People, Trevor Nunn's Hamlet, Journey's End and You Never Can Tell on stage and small screen favourites such as Ever Decreasing Circles, A Perfect Spy and Cold Comfort Farm as well as movies includingChariots of Fire and Bean, will perform in First Love, Beckett's 1946 novella brought to the stage by director Michael Colgan. This comic yet dark story explores a struggle between desire and emotional engagement of a man who finds himself homeless, sharing a canal-side spot with a prostitute.

EH JOE and FIRST LOVE are part of the Beckett at the Festival season of one of the core elements of this year's Festival programme. The Gate Theatre Dublin and Pan Pan Theatre bring to the stage Samuel Beckett's productions originally written for radio, television or novels. Other theatre offerings include I'll Go On, Embers and All That Fall. The Beckett season also provides a rare opportunity to see the 19 films, by acclaimed filmmakers, actors and artists, of the Beckett on Film project produced by Michael Colgan and Alan Moloney, as well as events and talks related to Beckett's work.

Gate Theatre Dublin Artistic Director Michael Colgan said: 'Being guests at the Edinburgh International Festival; performing Beckett works rarely seen, being partners with Pan Pan and spending time with Jonathan Mills is as good as it gets. The Gate is excited to be coming, for the fifth time, to the Festival of Festivals'.

Jonathan Mills, Edinburgh International Festival Director said: 'Michael Gambon and Peter Egan are both wonderful actors and will bring Festival audiences a very special experience in Edinburgh this August. We look forward to welcoming them. There are still some tickets available to our Beckett at the Festival season, so get online or on the phone and snap them up while you can.'

Beckett at the Festival is supported by Harold Mitchell Esq, AC, Léan Scully EIF Fund and Culture Ireland.

EH JOE
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Fri 23 August & Tue 27 August 9.00pm
Thu 29 August 7.00m
Sat 31 August 5.00pm
Tickets £8-20
eif.co.uk/ehjoe

FIRST LOVE
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Wed 28 August & Sat 31 August 7.00pm
Thu 29 & Sat 30 August 9.00pm
Tickets £8-20
eif.co.uk/firstlove

Beckett at the Festival:
www.eif.co.uk/series/beckettevents

Hub Tickets: +44 (0)131 473 2000
Book online and more information: eif.co.uk