UBBU

ABOUT THE PLAY

In his latest solo show, "Ubu", the acclaimed puppeteer Neville Tranter proves once again that puppetry doesn't necessarily have to be sweet and fun but that it can also convey tough and raw things.

The production of "Ubu" is an adaptation of Alfred Jarry's famous 1896 "Ubu Roi". The play follows the rise and fall of the self-centred despot Ubu and his wife. Ubu is impulsive, violent and obscene. Stupidity is his greatest strength; morality and virtue play no part. The resemblance to some rulers in today's world is unfortunately unavoidable. "It's the Russians, Donald Trump is coming too. But I am not sending political messages. It always depends on what the viewer wants to understand," says the artist, who has lived in the Netherlands since 1978. "My Ubu ends with good news: even this world's Ubus don't reign forever. But there is also bad news: sooner or later, other Ubus will follow."

English with Czech subtitles.

• Length:70 min.
• Age category:12+
• Directed by:Neville Tranter
• Dramaturgie:Neville Tranter, Wim Sitvast
• Designed by:Neville Tranter
• Premiere:2022
• Starring:Neville Tranter

About the theatre:

Puppeteer Neville Tranter has been on the international stage for 40 years and is well-known all over the world. He grew up in Australia and, after completing his theatre studies, he founded Stuffed Puppet Theatre in 1976. In 1978 Tranter came with his theatre company to Amsterdam to participate in the Festival of Fools (street theatre) and decided to make this city his home base. Here he developed his signature style of visual theatre with life-size muppet-style puppets. His themes are murderous ambitions, lust for power and greed. However, the moral darkness remains bearable because it is always mixed with absurd humour. Tranter performs all over the world, from Japan to the USA, from South Africa to Russia and Brazil, and of course everywhere in Europe.