The document discusses plans for updating and performing a modern version of the play "Ubu Cuckolded". Key points include: 1) The play would be set in the modern day and use current slang words to add comedy and reflect how technology has changed toys. 2) It would highlight issues today's youth face, like feeling pressure to have a "perfect body" from social media influences. 3) The performance style would draw from Antonin Artaud's work, using physical theater, exaggerated movement, and interacting with audiences. 4) Minimal sets and lighting/sound effects would create an imaginative world and "assault" the senses as Artaud intended.

1. Why Ubu Cuckolded?
Because we have more freedom to do what we
want with it, because it is completely
bizarre..BRILLIANT!

2. How can it be performed in a new and
modern way?
Playing children playing adults in
this modern day, we could use
modern slang language such as
words like ‘Peak’(That’s
unfortunate) ‘Stress’ (Sorry, that’s
stressful)‘Live’( Fun) ‘Dead’ (Boring
and dull) ‘Sick’ (Really good) and for
those Americans that influence the
U.K such as Will.I.am , ‘Dope’
(amazing) to add that comedy effect.
Also using Iphones, xbox’s Ipods
and generally modern technology as
toys instead of toys we would find a
decade ago. Showing that
technology has developed and
children are no longer interested in
dolls and board games.

3. What era will it be set in?
 I would set it in the modern day. Children today
have tanned, fake, skinny role models that
they see in magazines, television and in the
media in general. Having models such as Amy
Childs from TOWIE as an influence they
would want to have the ‘perfect’ body by
having big boobs, and a big bum and a tiny
waist. This pressure can lead to serious
insecurity and impact on people’s mental heath
leading to anorexia, anxiety and depression. I
wish to highlight this very important issue of
today that nobody’s perfect and we all have our
insecurities and it’s good to be different,
unique and yourself most importantly.
Children taking the mick out of adults who
want to be like a plastic Barbie doll can
illustrate how silly they sound and a perfect
example of this is in Pink’s ‘Stupid Girls’ music
video which will be my stimulus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BR4yQFZK9YM

5. What theatre practitioners work could you use
to explore the piece and why?
Antonin Artaud 1896-1948
I would put Antonin Artaud’s work into
practise because his plays have impact on
the audience, on their senses and make
them feel uneasy and tense which is what
I want my play to be about I what to show
the horrors of youth today. Also Ubu
Cuckolded can be dark and I want to
elaborate on that without shouting all the
time and throwing yourself across the
stage. Artaud’s methods are most effective
and what I plan to do is contrast or
juxtapose an issue eg the scenes are very
light-hearted and naturalist and then have
contrasting scenes like a surreal disaster
strikes and is shown using physical
theatre.

6. What contemporary performance style/s
could you use and why?
 In performance there would be an
emphasis on physicality eg the
actors use their bodies to create
objects. Emotions are pushed to
the extreme at key moments.
There is physical contact
between the actors. Artaud
wanted his actors to “strip
away their masks”. Movement,
gesture and voice should be
exaggerated and larger than
life. The actors would interact
with the audience. This would
work well as children because
children don’t care how they
behave and neither should the
actors.

7. The set/ lighting/ sound/music and why?
 The set would be simple, representational and symbolic
because it can be left to the audience’s imaginations and
it’s up to the actors to create this imaginary world. Use
of lighting, sound/music could be used to “assault” the
audience’s senses in the style of Artaud because I want
them to be on the edge of their seat. Colour would play a
key part because children love colours and it’s pleasing
to the eye and keep the audience hooked, also the design
might include musical instruments that the actors use as
part of performance eg at a tense moment an actor might
beat a drum to highlight a heartbeat and shows the
experimental minds of these characters.

8. What Venue would you use and why?
 I would choose The Traverse Theatre
because it is Scotland's new
writing theatre and from its
opening in 1963, it has embraced
a spirit of innovation and risk-
taking that launched the careers
of many of Scotland's best-known
writers. I am therefore confident
that it will launch Ubu
Cuckhulded with interactions
with the audience and actors even
being within the audience to make
the show unique.
"One of the most important theatres in
Britain."
The Observer.


9. Casting? How many actors would you like in
your cast? Who would you cast and why?
 Casting will be minimal and I’d have actors play
various roles to show their diversity. I would
cast actors who can embrace their inner child
and can play innocently acting as adults not
meaning to be funny but naturally are because
children are the best clowns. Clowning and
Commedia Del’arte is a massive part of the
piece and they would have to tap into both
areas to be ideal for the roles.

10. Costumes and why?
 Costumes and props will be minimal also,
anything that you would find in a dressing up
box, for example scarfs and bandanas. I’d also
like fake tan, tissue paper and hair wax for the
children to act like the role models they have
today.

11. Conclusion.
 In conclusion Ubu Cockhulded is about a man by
the name of Pa Ubu who takes a house from an
innocent man and has a wife Ma Ubu that
cheats on him and the rest of the narrative is
left to your own imagination, therefore there’s
a lot room to play and experiment. With my
idea of bringing the play into the current day,
it brings up key issues such as children
growing up wishing to be the ‘perfect’ size 0
and plastic surgery. I wish to shock viewers
into showing them the seriousness of this as it
can lead to future health problems with the
pressures of today.