A beckoning for Beckett lovers

In a picturesque village less than an hour northwest of Paris, the legacy of Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and Nobel prize winner Samuel Beckett is to be studied and celebrated through a new international artist residency programme founded by a Cork-based theatre company.

Located in the French village of Méricourt overlooking the River Seine, Atelier Samuel Beckett is the first residency programme to focus on the Dublin-born writer.

The residency offers self-contained accommodation and dedicated workspaces, to professional artists of all disciplines with an interest in the work of the Irish author. One such workspace is a Beckett-focused library and rehearsal space, to reflect, study, research and develop their practice.

Atelier Samuel Beckett is the brainchild of Cork natives, director Judy Hegarty Lovett (Monkstown) and actor Conor Lovett (Ballinlough), joint artistic directors of Cork-based theatre company Gare St Lazare Ireland, which specialises in innovative stage productions of the novels, short stories and plays of Samuel Beckett.

As part of the residency, artists will have the opportunity to meet with the Beckett experts of Gare St Lazare Ireland to avail of mentorship and advice.

“When Conor and I first arrived in Méricourt 23 years ago, we were gifted a place to live for a period of time,” said Judy.

“This allowed us to hone our skills and to fully immerse ourselves in Beckett’s work and, during this time, we developed much of the repertoire with which we have been touring internationally for the last two decades.

“We understand how important it is for artists to have space – both physical and mental – to think, work, and create in an inspiring environment and without distractions,” added Judy.

Conor said: “Even though Beckett lived in France for more than 50 years, up until now, there was no place or building in the country dedicated to his memory.

“We are honoured to have received permission from Samuel Beckett’s nephew and keeper of his estate, Edward Beckett, to name both the residency programme and the physical residence Atelier Samuel Beckett. It is a place wholly dedicated to his life and legacy, and to artistic creation.”

Currently, five bursaries for three-week artistic residencies at Atelier Samuel Beckett are confirmed for 2024. The bursaries in place are: two bursaries supported by Galway Culture Company, University of Galway and Gare St Lazare Ireland; one supported by Art for Human Rights; one supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Paris and Beckett Festival de Roussillon; as well as a privately funded Irish bursary, known as the ‘Ireland Eyes Bursary’.

Additional bursaries for 2024 are at the advanced planning stage. Bursaries cover a stipend for the artist, as well as travel costs, self-catering accommodation, and mentoring from Gare St Lazare Ireland.

Judy continued: “We are finalising plans for additional bursaries at present and hope to develop further partnerships in the coming months. We encourage anyone interested in supporting artists to attend Atelier Samuel Beckett to contact us.”

Atelier Samuel Beckett was launched at an event at the Irish Embassy in Paris last week, hosted by Ambassador of Ireland to France Niall Burgess and his wife Marie Morgan Burgess. Guests included Edward Beckett and actor Ciarán Hinds, who are both honorary patrons of the new residency programme.

Further information about Atelier Samuel Beckett is available at garestlazareireland.com/atelier.