Following its first performance in 1896, Alfred Jarry’s brutal satire about greed and the abuse of power was outlawed for its scandalous language, violence and disrespect for authority.
Anarchic and petulant, King Ubu has seized control of Poland, Lithuania and everything in between, abetted by his equally monstrous wife. But an invading army soon threatens his petty dictatorship. With resonances of Macbeth and unflinching humour, Ubu Roi, an inspiration to later absurdist playwrights, remains a startling challenge to the comfortable and conventional.
Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, directors of Barbican Artistic Associate Cheek by Jowl, are reunited once again with their 'crack ensemble' (Guardian) of French actors, last seen in Andromaque in 2009.
'One of the world’s most influential companies' Time Out
'Endlessly inventive and wickedly funny'Financial Times★★★★
1 hour 50 mins/no interval
Age guidance 16+ (contains adult themes)
Performed in French with English surtitles
Director Declan Donnellan Designer Nick Ormerod Associate Director Michelangelo Marchese Associate & Movement Director Jane Gibson Lighting Designer Pascal Noel Composer & Sound Designer Davy Sladek Video Design Benoit Simon/Quentin Vigier Costume Angie Burns Assistant Director Bertrand Lesca Voice Valérie Bezancon Fight Director Francois Rostain
Co-produced by Cheek by Jowl with the Barbican, Les Gémeaux/Sceaux/Scène Nationale and Comédie de Béthune, Centre Dramatique National Nord/Pas-de-Calais
Cheek by Jowl is supported by Arts Council England
French artists at the Barbican supported by the Institut français
French artists at the Barbican supported by the Institut français
View images
info
book
info
book
info
info
book
book