Happy Days

Beckett was a groundbreaking Irish writer known for his influential works in literature and theatre, particularly during the mid-20th century. Born on April 13, 1906, in Dublin, Beckett's foray into writing began in the 1930s, during which he produced novels and short stories that laid the foundation for his later masterpieces. His most iconic work, Waiting for Godot, premiered in 1953, epitomizing his unique style marked by themes of existentialism and the absurd. In 1969, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, solidifying his place as a central figure in modernist literature. Throughout his career, Beckett's contributions transcended traditional narrative forms, often intertwining elements of dark humor and deep philosophical inquiry. He wrote primarily in French, achieving recognition for works that explored the complexities of the human condition. His experimentation with language and form led to the creation of the "Theater of the Absurd," appealing to audiences with its unconventional approaches and bleak perspectives. Beckett's legacy continues to influence writers and playwrights, resonating with those who confront the existential dilemmas of human existence.

Laura is a Jessie Award-winning director, producer, dramaturg, and teacher based in Vancouver BC. She has directed with Delinquent Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Rumble Theatre, Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, United Players, Birmingham Repertory and the Bristol Old Vic. Previously with United Players she directed Silent Sky and The last Wife. She has her BFA in Theatre from UBC and her Masters in Directing from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As a director she has worked on productions around Canada and the UK. She has worked for such companies as Pacific Theatre, United Players, Rumble Theatre, City Stage New West, Larrikin Productions, The Guild Theatre, Caravan Farm Theatre, Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and the Bristol Old Vic. She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Delinquent Theatre an award-winning theatre company that creates and develops new Canadian work that has toured across the country. Laura has frequently worked as a director/dramaturg on the premier productions of new scripts. She has also worked on the development of numerous plays through Delinquent Theatre’s Playwrights in Residency program. As well as having been a guest dramaturg for Playwrights Theatre Centre’s writers colony. She has been teaching and inspiring a love of theatre in children aged two to eighteen for well over a decade. She did her undergrad in theatre at UBC and her masters in directing at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the UK. She also studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.