Ubu Roi

5pound theatre is offering the opportunity to view a classic we seldom get the chance to see.  As yet another adventurous gamble from this troupe, who never seem to ‘take themselves too seriously’, it is a raucous engaging messy romp. 

Adapted from an ancient work by Alfred Jarry Ubu Roi is an Absurdist piece that lends itself to Theatre of Cruelty. Therefore - what a great choice to stage it on a set of mud in front of an evocative fading mural reminiscent of a cave painting, designed by Mattea Davies.

The story is commences with a spry, spunky and dogged Mama Ubu (Amy Jones) goading and convincing childish and suggestible Papa Ubu (Nicholas Dubberly) to kill the King and assume power with all its trappings. Not an unfamiliar story.  Subterranean carnage, driven by greed, lust and hunger for power and control, informs the action and narrative at every turn.  At times atmosphere is created by Tim Witherspoon’s sound design of dripping water in a cavernous space - redolent of a prehistoric environment.

What the actors lack in maturity and experience they make up for with enthusiasm, energy and commitment. And nuance will quickly develop in the production after a few more runs.

There is a sense that some more rehearsal time could have been beneficial, as well as a few more actors and a bigger performing space.  But putting all that aside this is a valiant production and rewarding night of theatre.

Directed with a light and humorous touch by Jason Cavanagh, Ubu Roi will incubate and grow over the next two weeks into something really worth catching.  The show not the mud – that is!

Suzanne Sandow

Performers:

Nicholas Dubberly – Papa Ubu

Susannah Firth – Queen Rosamund/Ensemble

Any Jones – Mama Ubu

Colin Craig – Buggerlas/Ensemble

Anthony Okill – King Wenceslas/Ensemble

Andi Snelling – Captain Bordure/Ensemble

Designer – Mattea Davies

Sound Designer – Tim Wotherspoon