Act Without Words II

I filmed & Edited Act Without Words II for Company SJ, Sarah Jane Scaife's theatre company dedicated to re-presenting Samuel Beckett's work in contemporary Irish and international contexts. This Beckett mime—featuring two protagonists (A and B) emerging from sacks in a confined space, compelled into mechanical daily routines by an unseen goad (a stick or whistle)—was reimagined as a powerful outdoor installation in urban alleys, underpasses, and public spaces across cities.

My filming captured the essence of these site-specific performances: the stark lighting contrasts, physical precision of the actors (Keane and Burroughs delivering intense, wordless physicality), the urban framing, and the interplay between Beckett's text/directions and the surrounding environment. This documentation preserves the ephemeral nature of the installations—highlighting how the piece resonates differently in each location while staying faithful to Beckett's frieze-like, violently lit platform aesthetic.