Ubu Cuckolded by Alfred Jarry

Opening Night : April 25th 2007

Venue : Aberystwyth Arts Centre (studio)

Company

Notes on the Play

Published posthumously in 1944.

Production Notes

Programme Notes

Jarry was an enigma - an innovator. He was also a chronic alcoholic and not a well man. He died in his thirties and he really didn't write many plays - the UBU trilogy being his only recognised contribution to Theatre History. However, it was a massively significant contribution. The UBU plays rocked the theatrical landscape in Europe. They opened the floodgates for the Surrealist/Absurdist movemt. Indeed, "UBU REX" caused a riot at its premiere in 1896. The naturalists of the time were hugely offended by the grotesque characters, the dysfunctional plot/structure and Jarry's pure lust for anarchy... fantastic!

Jarry threw away the rule book, created his own philosophy and he rocked like a bastard!

It has been an immense pleasure to direct the UBU cycle over the last four years... we've done it in the wrong order (Cuckolded was the second play) but he wouldn't mind! What we have always strived to achieved with our UBU shows is that sense of irresponsible (yet controlled) chaos which Jarry desired. Yes, we use a huge amount of Rock & Roll - I think he would have liked that!

"Cuckolded" is clearly the most ridiculous of the trilogy and it does appear to be unfinished - we have "embellished" the ending.

Don't worry if you feel you don't get it all... it's a bit of a playground prank, on Mr. Jarry's behalf. All we have tried to do is to realise the desires of the author... ROCK ON!

Reviews

Review by : Paddy Cooper (Theatre in Wales)

"...Filthy, salacious and utterly fabulous"

Full text at http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/reviews/reviews_details.asp?reviewID=1592

Gallery

Pa Ubu