That Time (1976) by Samuel Beckett (Type of Work)

 

That Time (1976)

by Samuel Beckett

(Type of Work) 

Type of Work

Samuel Beckett’s That Time is a radio play and, more broadly, a work of absurdist drama that defies conventional narrative and theatrical structure. Unlike traditional plays, which rely on plot, character interaction, and stage action, That Time focuses primarily on voice, sound, and temporal perception. The play exists almost entirely in auditory space; it was written specifically for radio, emphasizing the human voice as the central medium through which meaning—and ambiguity—is conveyed.

The work is highly experimental, exemplifying Beckett’s late style, which strips away extraneous elements to confront the essence of human experience: memory, consciousness, and the passage of time. It is characterized by fragmented monologues, repetitive structures, and extended silences that function as dramatic pauses. In this sense, That Time can also be classified as a psychological or introspective work, exploring the internal landscapes of mind and memory rather than external action or plot.

The play’s form blurs boundaries between literature, theater, and sound art, as it relies on the rhythm, cadence, and tonal variation of voices to create meaning. It is a work that interrogates the limits of language, showing how speech can simultaneously reveal and obscure the self. Unlike conventional narrative, where characters and events drive comprehension, That Time challenges audiences to experience time and memory as a lived, often disorienting phenomenon.

In sum, That Time is a radical, postmodern exploration of consciousness: a radio play that uses voice and silence to probe the ineffable dimensions of human existence. It is both literary and performative, experimental in form, and philosophical in content, reflecting Beckett’s enduring fascination with the fragility, repetition, and persistence of life and memory.