Ubu Roi

A grotesque dictator takes control and proceeds to change laws and take control of phynances. Sound familiar? With its mix of playground nonsense, farce, scatological comedy, Symbolist stylisation, word-play and the violence of the Guignol Jarry kicked open the door to Dada, Surrealism and the Theatre of the Absurd. On witnessing the first performance Yeats wrote "[...]after our own verse, after all our subtle colour and nervous rhythm [..]what more is possible? After us the Savage God”. Pa Ubu would doubtless have replied, “Merdre!”. That original audience were prompted to riot, we politely request that you do not.