to William Frank Beckett, a surveyor, and Mary Jones Roe Beckett, a dedicated nurse. Educated at the esteemed Protestant school, Beckett earned a bachelor's degree in 1927 and a master's in 1931 from Trinity College. Disenchanted with teaching, he quickly abandoned the profession in favor of European travels, eventually calling Paris home in 1937. Although his literary talent spanned poetry, essays, and novels, his profound impact as a playwright, particularly with the masterfulWaiting for Godot (1954), secured his place in the annals of Absurdism.
This iconic two-act play revolves around two men engaging in seemingly futile dialogues as they await the elusive Godot, who never arrives. Beckett's bleak portrayal of existence further unfurled in Endgame (1957), which some critics perceive as an even starker examination of the human condition. Beckett continued his foray into the arts, producing plays, novels, and prose well into his eighties, until his passing from respiratory failure in Paris on December 22, 1989.

Jean Genet entered the world in Paris on December 19, 1910, a child of mystery shrouded by the absence of his father and the abandonment by his mother. His formative years unfolded within the confines of an orphanage before he was placed with a foster family who branded him a thief. His youth was marked by rebellion, as he bolted from a reformatory for young offenders and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion only to desert it. For two decades, Genet roamed Europe, living on the fringes through theft and prostitution. It was within the stark solitude of a prison cell, under a life sentence, that Genet's writing journey began. Thanks to fervent advocacy from his literary allies, he received a presidential pardon in 1948, liberating him to pursue a life devoted to writing, the arts, and fervent political activism. He became a passionate supporter of the Black Panther Party and evolved into a cult icon, influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre’s portrayal of him as a saint and martyr. Genet's literary debut featured poetry, novels, and an embellished autobiography. While still confined, he penned his inaugural play, The Maids (1947), and post-release, he continued crafting dramas, many of which captivated audiences. The late 1950s and early 1960s marked his golden era as a playwright. In 1970, Genet immersed himself in the Middle East, living amongst members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), championing their cause. He passed away in Paris on April 15, 1986, from throat cancer, leaving behind memoirs chronicling his time with the PLO, published later that same year.

Václav Havel (1936–)

Václav Havel, a formidable playwright, steadfast political dissident, and the Czech Republic's esteemed president, was born in Prague on October 5, 1936, to Václav M. and Bozena Vavreckova Havel. His education took place at a technical school and Prague’s Academy of Art, followed by service in the Czech Army from 1957 to 1959. Through the vibrant 1960s, Havel labored in Czechoslovakia's theater scene, undertaking roles from stagehand to playwright-in-residence. He achieved acclaim with early plays such as The Garden Party and The Memorandum, which incisively tackled the soul-crushing effects of governmental bureaucracy. The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 led to his imprisonment and a ban on his plays, yet his global reputation flourished as his works found success beyond Czechoslovakia’s borders. Domestically, he emerged as a vocal advocate for human rights. With the Soviet Union's fall in 1989, Havel’s plays re-emerged on the Czech stage, and he ascended to the presidency of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), a role he held until 2002.

Eugène Ionesco (1912–1994)

Eugène Ionesco was born in the town of Slatina, Romania, on November 26, 1912. The son of Eugène, a practicing lawyer, and Marie-Therese Icard Ionesco, he later took on French citizenship and spent the majority of his life in the vibrant city of Paris. A painter and playwright, Ionesco became renowned for his works linked to the Theater of the Absurd, including notable plays like The Bald Soprano (1950), The Lesson (1951), and Rhinocéros (1959). Through biting black humor, he critiqued societal and political structures, positing laughter as the sole response to life's absurdities. Despite his association with the absurd, Ionesco preferred the term “Theatre of Derision,” often targeting the inadequacies and manipulative power of language in his early works. His plays enjoyed significant acclaim during the 1950s and 1960s, though his later works did not receive the same fervor. Shifting his focus, Ionesco delved into painting and non-fiction writing. He passed away in Paris on March 28, 1994.

Harold Pinter (1930–)

Harold Pinter was born on October 10, 1930, in a modest neighborhood in Hackney, London, England, to Hyman and Frances Pinter. His childhood brimmed with joy, though it was intermittently shadowed by the nightly dread of World War II air raids. At Hackney Downs Grammar School, Pinter excelled in acting, writing, and sports. In 1948, he embarked on studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and the following years saw him perform with various repertory companies as an actor. His breakthrough as a playwright came in 1957 when his first play, The Room, debuted in Bristol, England. It was soon followed by The Birthday Party (1958), The Dumbwaiter (1959), and an array of plays, radio dramas, television works, and screenplays. Pinter's influence as a pivotal post-World War II playwright is undisputed, with his works resonating with audiences and critics alike.