Ubu Roi (King Ubu)
T02044492656
Alfred Jarry's absurd and funny political satire
Ubu Roi created a storm when it first appeared in Paris in 1896, striking a blow for artistic freedom with its outrageous burlesque. Set in fictional Poland, the utterly unlikable Ma and Pa Ubu violently take over the kingdom, become dictators and unleash a reign of mayhem on society.
Ubu Roi uses scatological humour, farce and irreverence. Although the lewd parody loosely blends elements of 'Richard III' and 'Macbeth', Jarry's characters are blatantly stupid, cowardly, cruel, greedy, gluttonous and grotesque. Seen by some as an overgrown schoolboy joke that unfolds like a gory cartoon, Jarry's work actually inspired theatre of the absurd and Dario Fo as well as influencing the dada and surrealist movements in art.
Archive :: production:T02044492656, play:S394457472, venue:V820
Production details
A bright open playing space, an empty judo mat and an assortment of actors, costumes, wigs, props and a DJ, assemble to create a fresh, vital energised 'play'. Large, grotesque and base characters mix verbal and physical comic dexterity with a galaxy of animated sound and video projected effects to create the theatrical mayhem of the fantastical world which is Ubu.
