The director proposes a comedic adaptation of Ubu that uses physical theatre, puppetry, and over-the-top reactions for humor. Set in 1930s/modern era with cross-dressing costumes, it will have 10 male actors and simple staging focused on Achra's house and conversations. Lighting will be full white with purple for night scenes, and unknown instrumental music sets the background without distracting from the performance. The goal is to produce a funny play that will have the audience laughing through its unrealistic and exaggerated situations.

1. Ubu Proposal
I am the director. These are my
ideas… Hope you enjoy!

2. How could it be performed in a new and modern way?How could it be performed in a new and modern way?
What is your overall concept for the piece and why?What is your overall concept for the piece and why?
 Keep it Simple andKeep it Simple and
Funny. ComedyFunny. Comedy
 My overall concept ofMy overall concept of
the piece will bethe piece will be
comedy.comedy.
 The characters andThe characters and
settings of the piece aresettings of the piece are
genuinely funny.genuinely funny.
 Over the top reactionsOver the top reactions
and unrealisticand unrealistic
situations (crocodile)situations (crocodile)
make the perfect recipemake the perfect recipe
for a funny play whichfor a funny play which
will have the audiencewill have the audience
in stitches. E.g. Familyin stitches. E.g. Family
GuyGuy

3. What theatre practitioners work could you use to exploreWhat theatre practitioners work could you use to explore
the piece and why?the piece and why?
 Physical Theatre, Shadow Puppetry &Physical Theatre, Shadow Puppetry &
PuppetryPuppetry
 Raymond Crowe: Shadow PlayRaymond Crowe: Shadow Play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAQxNVQF_I0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAQxNVQF_I0
 DV8 – Enter AchillesDV8 – Enter Achilles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c9ToyDs3mYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c9ToyDs3mY

4. What contemporary performance styles could you useWhat contemporary performance styles could you use
and why?and why?
Armstrong & MillerArmstrong & Miller
RAF Pilots Sketch:RAF Pilots Sketch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1rWvGSmOuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1rWvGSmOu

5. Armstrong & MillerArmstrong & Miller
Brabbins & FyffeBrabbins & Fyffe
Train Song:Train Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyYfBS2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyYfBS2

6. What are you going to draw from to influence the piece?What are you going to draw from to influence the piece?
Consider what relevance the play might have for a modern audience?Consider what relevance the play might have for a modern audience?
 Drawing on BlueDrawing on Blue
Remembered Hills… KidsRemembered Hills… Kids
playing Adults.playing Adults.
 Armstrong & Miller is aArmstrong & Miller is a
sketch show with some verysketch show with some very
good ideas and sometimesgood ideas and sometimes
unorthodox situations,unorthodox situations,
similar to Ubu.similar to Ubu.
 Pantomime the overactingPantomime the overacting
and bug movement s wouldand bug movement s would
tie in very well with the ideatie in very well with the idea
of a pantomime. Audienceof a pantomime. Audience
interaction is the idea I hadinteraction is the idea I had
in mind not the whole ‘He’sin mind not the whole ‘He’s
Behind you!’. InteractionBehind you!’. Interaction
though.though.
 Relevance to modernRelevance to modern
audience is the many warsaudience is the many wars
and protests in the last 5and protests in the last 5
years due to the views onyears due to the views on
the countries government.the countries government.
 Syria & Libya have had warsSyria & Libya have had wars
and riots due to theand riots due to the
government in charge at thatgovernment in charge at that
moment.moment.
 France is renowned forFrance is renowned for
making their feelings wellmaking their feelings well
known in the streetsknown in the streets
because of Taxes andbecause of Taxes and
current policies.current policies.
 Stockholm, Sweden isStockholm, Sweden is
currently in the 6currently in the 6thth
night ofnight of
riots due to governmentsriots due to governments
laws and policieslaws and policies
(immigration)(immigration)

7. What era would you set it in and why?What era would you set it in and why?
Casting? How many actors would you like in your cast?Casting? How many actors would you like in your cast?
 1930/20131930/2013
 I really would like toI really would like to
have a cross-era piece.have a cross-era piece.
People in 1930 dressPeople in 1930 dress
with a touch ofwith a touch of
modernisation to them.modernisation to them.
 Suit and coat tails withSuit and coat tails with
a walking stick wearinga walking stick wearing
a Snapback.a Snapback.
 Tracksuits, Top Hat,Tracksuits, Top Hat,
Monocles.Monocles.
 10 Male Actors10 Male Actors
 Sticking with theSticking with the
pantomime theme. Alsopantomime theme. Also
keeping with a touch ofkeeping with a touch of
Shakespearean theatre.Shakespearean theatre.
 It ties in nicely with myIt ties in nicely with my
idea for a cross-eraidea for a cross-era
theatre piece.theatre piece.

8. Venue? Why?Venue? Why?
What staging? Why?What staging? Why?
Costumes? Why?Costumes? Why?
 Theatre’s and LargeTheatre’s and Large
Areas (parks)Areas (parks)
 ProsceniumProscenium
 In the middle of theIn the middle of the
stage: Achra’s house.stage: Achra’s house.
On stage left: Stakes.On stage left: Stakes.
Stage Right: Dead stageStage Right: Dead stage
for the conversationsfor the conversations
and Palcontentsand Palcontents
 Reasons? SimpleReasons? Simple
Staging drawingStaging drawing
attention to theattention to the
performance and notperformance and not
the background.the background.
 3 Fat suits of easily3 Fat suits of easily
changeable size. Use ofchangeable size. Use of
air or stuffing for Ma &air or stuffing for Ma &
Pa Ubu.Pa Ubu.
 Reasons for 3… 2Reasons for 3… 2
stomachs and 1 arse.stomachs and 1 arse.
 Achra's: Mad ScientistAchra's: Mad Scientist
Look.Look.
 Menmom: Suave,Menmom: Suave,
Smart. Monopoly ManSmart. Monopoly Man
look. Monocle etc.look. Monocle etc.
 Cobbler: Pinocchio'sCobbler: Pinocchio's
Dad: GeppettoDad: Geppetto

9. Lighting? Why?Lighting? Why?
Sound/Music? Why?Sound/Music? Why?
 Simple stage lighting.Simple stage lighting.
Full stage white light.Full stage white light.
 During scenes of nightDuring scenes of night
purple lighting.purple lighting.
 During conscienceDuring conscience
scenes puppetry will bescenes puppetry will be
in effect complete blackin effect complete black
out apart from aout apart from a
backlight in front of abacklight in front of a
gauze.gauze.
 Unknown InstrumentalUnknown Instrumental
Music. No chartMusic. No chart
toppers.toppers.
 Known music canKnown music can
sometimes lead thesometimes lead the
attention toward theattention toward the
music. Unknown musicmusic. Unknown music
can highten thecan highten the
performance. Especiallyperformance. Especially
when lyrics arewhen lyrics are
involved.involved.
 The unknown musicThe unknown music
which is instrumentalwhich is instrumental
sets a background forsets a background for
the piece.the piece.

10. Lighting? Why?Lighting? Why?
Sound/Music? Why?Sound/Music? Why?
 Simple stage lighting.Simple stage lighting.
Full stage white light.Full stage white light.
 During scenes of nightDuring scenes of night
purple lighting.purple lighting.
 During conscienceDuring conscience
scenes puppetry will bescenes puppetry will be
in effect complete blackin effect complete black
out apart from aout apart from a
backlight in front of abacklight in front of a
gauze.gauze.
 Unknown InstrumentalUnknown Instrumental
Music. No chartMusic. No chart
toppers.toppers.
 Known music canKnown music can
sometimes lead thesometimes lead the
attention toward theattention toward the
music. Unknown musicmusic. Unknown music
can highten thecan highten the
performance. Especiallyperformance. Especially
when lyrics arewhen lyrics are
involved.involved.
 The unknown musicThe unknown music
which is instrumentalwhich is instrumental
sets a background forsets a background for
the piece.the piece.