By Joy Watters, at Dundee Rep

ACTRESS ALISON Peebles gives an astonishing performance in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days.

For almost 90 minutes, she single-handedly grips the audience’s attention in Beckett’s exploration of the absurdity of human existence.

Happy Days is strangely compulsive in its examination of the mundane nature of day-to-day life.

Written and premiered in 1961, it was hailed as one of the great masterpieces of post-war theatre.

The sun beats down on Winnie who is buried up to her chest in sand and when she returns in the second half, it is now up to her neck.

Very occasionally husband Willie makes a response, but it is Winnie’s story.

There is the contrast between the strange situation in which she finds herself, peering out of a giant anthill, and the day-to-day observations she makes about life.

She takes things in and out of her handbag, cleans her teeth, makes inquiries of Willie, wonders about the future and the present.

She is clinging to existence in a blank landscape, taking comfort in familiar objects and times.

Winnie makes intriguing observations but by the later stages she is bereft of her hat and parasol, the heat taking its toll.

Dominic Hill’s production has a particularly intimate feel to it with the rear part of the auditorium closed off.

He has finely judged the pace and timing of the piece, drawing the best from Peebles and Robert Paterson as Willie.

Dan Jones’ soundscape powerfully underpins the mood while Jeanine Davies’ lighting lets us see clearly see the ever-changing face and moods of Winnie.

She keeps smiling on, an eternal optimist with the ringing of a bell marking the passage of time.

There is the sadness when Winnie realises that she is going nowhere and that this is life.

It is also very funny at times, particularly with the vulgar interruptions of husband Willie.

The role of Winnie is one of the most challenging in theatre for an actress, and Peebles excels at it.

It is difficult to take your eyes off her as she subtly conveys changing moods with her eyes and facial expressions and nuances in her voice.

Happy Days is a challenging work for actor and audience and this production gives audiences a rare chance to see a landmark piece of theatre.

It runs until June 9.