Rufus Norris Beckett Review: Claire Booth's Mouth Steals Show 2026

In Rufus Norris's strange and deeply moving take on Samuel Beckett's Not I, a disembodied mouth steals the show. The production, part of the 2026 Beckett Biennale, features soprano Claire Booth in a tour-de-force performance that lingers long after the lights dim.

A Mouth That Speaks Volumes

Beckett's short play is performed in darkness, with only a mouth visible, and Booth's portrayal is unstoppably animated. Her speed and urgency are arresting, reaching for a truth that rests just beyond her rapid articulations. Under Norris's direction, the setup may be academic—the theatre is part of Reading University's campus—but the production has nothing dusty or donnish about it.

The Preamble: Berio and Folkestone Films

The evening begins with Luciano Berio's experimental Sequenza III, performed by Booth. This piece becomes a musical companion to Beckett in retrospect, with its stuttering repetitions, gasps, and throat-clearings. A trio of short films about Beckett's relationship to Folkestone, where he married in 1961, follows. While none of this buildup is strictly required, it sets a contemplative tone for the main event.

Claire Booth's Impressive Delivery

Booth captures the racing brain, the split interior self, and the speed of desperation to replay a life that seems to be flashing before a woman's eyes—or rather, her mouth—from birth to this moment in a field, among the cowslips at the age of 70, which might be the moment of death. From the repetitions and verbal hiccups, you glean that life has been hard, loveless, and undermining, yet there is an insistence on speaking it aloud.

Rufus Norris's Direction

Norris, known for his work as artistic director of the National Theatre, brings a raw intensity to the piece. He avoids over-intellectualizing Beckett's text, allowing Booth's performance to shine. The result is a production that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary.

Key Takeaways

• Claire Booth delivers a mesmerizing performance as the Mouth in Beckett's Not I.
• Rufus Norris's direction is academic yet vibrant, avoiding dusty conventions.
• The programme includes Berio's Sequenza III and short films on Beckett's Folkestone connection.
• Part of the 2026 Beckett Biennale, the production is a must-see for theatre enthusiasts.

Comparison of Beckett's Not I Productions

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