Ubu Roi

Synopsis

Set in a fantastical version of Poland, Ubu is persuaded by his wife, Mama Ubu, to usurp the throne. Ubu, driven by greed and a comical lust for power, embarks on a reign of terror, levying ridiculous taxes and mercilessly slaughtering nobles.

The play is a raucous journey through Ubu’s ludicrous misadventures, marked by exaggerated, buffoonish characters and surreal, often nonsensical dialogues. Themes of power, greed, and the corrupting influence of absolute authority are at the forefront, presented in a manner that is both darkly comic and absurdly farcical. Jarry’s pioneering work in this play is seen as a precursor to the Theatre of the Absurd movement, using bizarre humour and outrageous scenarios to comment on the folly and vanity of human nature.