Difference between revisions of "Ubu and the Truth Commission"

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by [[Jane Taylor]], [[William Kentridge]] and the [[Handspring Puppet Company]]. Based on [[Alfred Jarry]]'s ''[[Ubu Roi]]'',  it compared Jarry's King Ubu with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, utilizing texts from the TRC hearings in documentary fashion, as well as puppets and animated graphics by Kentridge. The text was finalized by [[Jane Taylor]] and the production directed by [[William Kentridge]].  It opened in South Africa at the [[Grahamstown Festival]] in 1997,presented by the [[Handspring Puppet Company]] and [[William Kentridge]] in association with [[Mannie Manim Productions]], featuring [[Dawid Minnaar]] as Pa Ubu and [[Busi Zokufa]] as Ma Ubu.  
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''[[Ubu and the Truth Commission]]'' is a play by [[Jane Taylor]], [[William Kentridge]] and the [[Handspring Puppet Company]].  
  
Two story lines were presented through two different media; the fictitious story of Pa Ubu, the outrageously violent megalomaniac and his wife Ma Ubu were played by live actors, while the true-life stories of individuals testifying at the TRC were presented through puppets. Both [[TRC]]-related productions, ''[[The Story I am About to Tell]]'' and ''[[Ubu and the Truth Commission]]'' told the actual stories of real victims who had recently testified before the [[TRC]], but in neither production were those victims portrayed by actors playing the parts. As if the pain and suffering of those victims were too real and too immediate at that time to be presented by performers, the former production used the real victims on stage and the latter used puppets.
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==Original text==
 +
 
 +
Based on [[Alfred Jarry]]'s ''[[Ubu Roi]]'',  it compared Jarry's King Ubu with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, utilizing texts from the TRC hearings in documentary fashion, as well as puppets and animated graphics by Kentridge. The text was finalized by [[Jane Taylor]] and the production directed by [[William Kentridge]].
 +
 
 +
Two story lines were presented through two different media; the fictitious story of Pa Ubu, the outrageously violent megalomaniac and his wife Ma Ubu were played by live actors, while the true-life stories of individuals testifying at the TRC were presented through puppets. Both [[TRC]]-related productions, ''[[The Story I am about to Tell]]'' and ''[[Ubu and the Truth Commission]]'' told the actual stories of real victims who had recently testified before the [[TRC]], but in neither production were those victims portrayed by actors playing the parts. As if the pain and suffering of those victims were too real and too immediate at that time to be presented by performers, the former production used the real victims on stage and the latter used puppets.
 +
 
 +
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 +
1997: It opened in South Africa at the [[Grahamstown Festival]] (11 July) and the [[Market Theatre]] in 1997, presented by the [[Handspring Puppet Company]] and directed by [[William Kentridge]] in association with [[Mannie Manim]] Productions, featuring [[Dawid Minnaar]] as Pa Ubu and [[Busi Zokufa]] as Ma Ubu, [[Louis Seboko]], [[Adrian Kohler]] and [[Basil Jones]].
 +
 
 +
1998: Production presented in Stellenbosch at the [[Spier Amphitheatre]], [[Spier Summer Arts Festival]] (13 Jan 1998).
 +
 
 +
== Performance history abroad ==
 +
1997: Premiered at the ''Kunstfest'' Weimar on 17 June.
 +
 
 +
==Translations and adaptations==
  
 
==Source==
 
==Source==
 
Grahamstown Festival programme, 1997
 
Grahamstown Festival programme, 1997
  
[Van Heerden (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms] P.103
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[[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
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 +
[Van Heerden (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms] pp 102-104.
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[[ESAT Bibliography Da-Daz|Davis, Geoffrey V.]] 2003. pp. 333-343.
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== Return to ==
 +
 
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 U|U]] in Plays I Original SA Plays
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 U|U]]
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays|South African Theatre Plays]]
 
  
Return to [[Main Page]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Latest revision as of 11:14, 21 February 2024

Ubu and the Truth Commission is a play by Jane Taylor, William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company.

Original text

Based on Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi, it compared Jarry's King Ubu with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, utilizing texts from the TRC hearings in documentary fashion, as well as puppets and animated graphics by Kentridge. The text was finalized by Jane Taylor and the production directed by William Kentridge.

Two story lines were presented through two different media; the fictitious story of Pa Ubu, the outrageously violent megalomaniac and his wife Ma Ubu were played by live actors, while the true-life stories of individuals testifying at the TRC were presented through puppets. Both TRC-related productions, The Story I am about to Tell and Ubu and the Truth Commission told the actual stories of real victims who had recently testified before the TRC, but in neither production were those victims portrayed by actors playing the parts. As if the pain and suffering of those victims were too real and too immediate at that time to be presented by performers, the former production used the real victims on stage and the latter used puppets.

Performance history in South Africa

1997: It opened in South Africa at the Grahamstown Festival (11 July) and the Market Theatre in 1997, presented by the Handspring Puppet Company and directed by William Kentridge in association with Mannie Manim Productions, featuring Dawid Minnaar as Pa Ubu and Busi Zokufa as Ma Ubu, Louis Seboko, Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones.

1998: Production presented in Stellenbosch at the Spier Amphitheatre, Spier Summer Arts Festival (13 Jan 1998).

Performance history abroad

1997: Premiered at the Kunstfest Weimar on 17 June.

Translations and adaptations

Source

Grahamstown Festival programme, 1997

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

[Van Heerden (2008)][1] pp 102-104.

Davis, Geoffrey V. 2003. pp. 333-343.

Return to

Return to U in Plays I Original SA Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries