Alfred Jarry

Alfred Jarry was a French symbolist writer best known for his play “Ubu Roi” (1896), a precursor to the Dada, Surrealist, Futurist movements, and later the Theatre of the Absurd. Jarry’s work spans novels, poems, short plays, opéras bouffes, absurdist essays, and speculative journalism, exemplifying absurdist literature and postmodern philosophy. He coined the term ‘pataphysics’ as a parody of science.

César-Antéchrist (1895), Ubu Cocu (1897), Ubu Enchaíné (1899) and Ubu Sur La Butte (1906) along with Ubu Roi are Jarry’s only published plays, all following the same character of Père Ubu. Ubu Roi was his first play. It was staged at the Nouveau-Théâtre (now Théâtre de Paris) in Paris, France on 10th December 1896. The production had only one performance.

Pablo Picasso was said to be a fan of Jarry and even acquired his revolver after his death, as well as buying some of Jarry’s manuscripts. Picasso also drew Jarry.