Peter Marinker is set to star in Krapp’s Last Tape at The Cockpit theatre this September after recently being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The 84-year-old London actor will perform Samuel Beckett’s one-act monologue, which was written in 1958. During the performance, the audience meets a man marking his birthday alone, while listening to and reflecting on recordings he has made each year on that day. Now 69, we hear a recording Krapp made at the age of 39 and within it, his reflections on tapes made in earlier years, as he makes what we are told is his last tape.
This new production at The Cockpit will use reel-to-reel recordings made by Marinker the last time he played Krapp in 1983. A stage manager will be present, and any in-ear prompts needed will run alongside the play, highlighting the relationship between memory and remembering, cognition and re-cognition.
Following his recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the decision to return to Krapp’s Last Tape at this stage in his life was a deeply personal one for the actor, who brings his lived experience to Beckett’s exploration of memory and ageing. Marinker will be supported at all times by the production team at the Cockpit and by his family. Proceeds from the run will be donated to The Alzheimer’s Society.
Directed by Dave Wybrow, the production will be designed by actor/designer Duncan Henderson. The process of creating the show will be captured by videographer Chris Lincé, generating a lasting legacy for Peter’s performance.
Krapp’s Last Tape plays The Cockpit from Wednesday, September 2 – Saturday, September 5, 2026. Tickets here.