Happy Days at Melbourne Theatre Company

By Samuel Beckett

Directed by Petra Kalive

The inimitable Judith Lucy takes on the role of Samuel Beckett’s Winnie, the determined optimist in the face of an endless existential crisis. Acclaimed as one of the best plays ever written, Happy Days is an absurdist, tragicomic tour-de-force – that just happens to be a pitch-perfect commentary on our times.

Buried up to her waist, but never questioning why, Winnie is determined to carry on as best she can. Awoken by a piercing bell, she begins her day with a prayer before waking her husband, Willie. Willie does not share Winnie’s predicament, but he is just as stuck. Despite the unrelenting sun and the limitations of her current – and eventually, sinking – situation, Winnie remains adamant that this is a happy day; these are all happy days.

A 20th-century classic, Happy Days was written more than 60 years ago but has never been more resonant, its absurdity acutely reflecting our reality. Making her Melbourne Theatre Company debut, actor and comedian Judith Lucy will team up with director Petra Kalive (Laurinda), making this Beckett masterpiece wildly funny, and not to be missed.

★★★★★ "Beckett's humour was at it's dark zenith when he wrote this in 1961." - The Age

"Happy Days remains one of the most unsettling and unforgettable plays in the modern canon." - The New York Times

Writer: Samuel Beckett

Director: Petra Kalive

Cast: Judith Lucy, Hayden Spencer