Difference between revisions of "Ubu and the Truth Commission"
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| − | ''[[Ubu and the Truth Commission]]'' is a play 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]]. | + | ''[[Ubu and the Truth Commission]]'' is a play by [[Jane Taylor]], [[William Kentridge]] and the [[Handspring Puppet Company]]. |
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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 == | == 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 [[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]]. | + | 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 == | == Performance history abroad == | ||
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==Source== | ==Source== | ||
Grahamstown Festival programme, 1997 | Grahamstown Festival programme, 1997 | ||
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| + | [[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer) | ||
[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. | [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. | ||
[[ESAT Bibliography Da-Daz|Davis, Geoffrey V.]] 2003. pp. 333-343. | [[ESAT Bibliography Da-Daz|Davis, Geoffrey V.]] 2003. pp. 333-343. | ||
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== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
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.
Contents
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
