UBU is a performative installation by Robert Wilson inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi, created by Robert Wilson. It is a critique of war and totalitarianism with a grotesque, dictatorial main character that is as relevant today as when it was created.

Created by Robert Wilson

www.robertwilson.com/ubu

UBU

UBU is a performance. It is not really a theater piece, nor a visual art installation. We avoid definitions and direct our focus towards raising questions.

Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi is a play made at home when he was a teenager, mocking his professors. It was so subversive in its time that it quickly became a classic. It was acclaimed for reaching universality through archetypes. In a similar process, with simplicity and subversion, we tear it apart and use the essence of the play as a source of inspiration. It allows us to approach the madness of power from various angles, through tyranny, arbitrary, cruelty, absurdity, cowardice, death.

The cast is considered like an ensemble, where the notion of character fades out. It is all an act and it is all dance. Using the editing of texts and movements like a dynamic collage, with means as different as puppets, banners, animals, grotesque dances and recorded voices, we build a constellation of sequences that allow the audience the freedom to interpret and build their own perspective on this ridiculous depiction of power and barbarism.

Charles Chemin

CREDITS

Book, director, set & lighting design

Co-director
Co-set designer
Co-lighting designer
Costumes
Puppet designer
Text

Performers




Assistant director & stage manager
Technical director
Lighting Supervisor
Sound
ASM
Costume assistants
Production and Management
Distribution

Original idea

Originally premiered at Es Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma (Mallorca) on October 15th 2022

Robert Wilson

Charles Chemin
Stephanie Engeln
Marcello Lumaca
Aina Moroms
Joan Baixas, La Claca / based on Joan Miró’s original design
Eli Troen, Robert Wilson & Charles Chemin
based on Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi,

Mona Belizán, Biel Morro, Lulu Cormican, Alejandro Navarro, Joan Maria Pascual, Sandrine Penda, Joana Peralta, Sienna Vila, Alba Vinton.
(Understudies: Lulu Cormican, Endika Izquierdo)

Maite Román
Enrico Maso
Simon Gautier
Dario Felli, Thorsten Hoppe & Joan Vila
Sienna Vila
Carme Miró & Mimi Sánchez
Martin Lorente, Jenny Vila
Marko Rankov

Imma Prieto

Production


Executive Producer

Funded by



Co-producers


With the support of

In collaboration with

Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma
Successió Miró

Jenny Vila - La Mecànica

Govern de les Illes Balears
Acción Cultural Española (AC/E)
Ajuntament de Palma

Festival Grec de Barcelona (ES)
Kunstfest Weimar (DE)

Institut Ramon Llull (ES)

Groupe Karol Karol (FR)