Gary Oldman, Regret, and a Spiritual Practice.

A few weeks ago, Dom and I had a sneaky date night in town to see the brilliant Gary Oldman in Samuel Beckett’s 1958 one-man play, Krapp’s Last Tape.

In the darkness and silence of the theatre with only one attic light glaring down on the character of Krapp we watched for 55 minutes an old man rewinding and replaying his memories, stopping and starting a tape machine, listening to his younger self from three decades ago.

In this time we slowly watched the journey of vulnerability and regret wrap themselves around his being like a dark, heavy cloak.

It was a fascinating evening, not just the play or the performance but what this piece of art forced 750 audience members to do. To sit still, in silence, switch off phones and watch a normal human being just feel.

There was no loud music, no flashing lights. No violence or superhero’s just an old man reflecting on his life and who he used to be.

For me, it shone a blinding spotlight on how our society has changed since 1958.

Our ability to entertain and to be entertained has grown to insane levels of speed and action over the past sixty seven years that unless we are feeling a rush of adrenaline or a hit of endorphins we get itchy in our seats.

This became very obvious in the dark, quiet auditorium with coughing from audience members reaching a worrying high in a fifty five minute period of time!

The conversations that I witnessed between couples that couldn’t wait until the performance was over and the vibrating notifications of a phone somewhere in the darkness going off at least every few minutes through the entire performance.

Samuel Beckett’s play has become a spiritual practice for his 2025 audience members. A practice to slow down, to sit still, to become aware and fully engage with another human being and his vulnerability.

I’m not sure if that was his intention or not but I’m grateful for his work as it is was a reminder of the pace that we used to live in not that long ago.

So, if you get a chance today why not hit pause on the adrenaline and endorphin raging entertainment and go for something a little softer for the senses. Using your imagination to rewind back to a time of a simpler, slower way of being.

Thank you for being here. Sending love and kindness,

Laura x