Playwright requires hapless mule with funny-looking basket etc (6,7)

I believe the answer is:

samuel beckett

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'playwright' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'hapless mule with funny-looking basket etc' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'mule' is 'muel' which is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'requires' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for samuel beckett that I've seen is " Waiting for Godot playwright".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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