King Ubu at Fadenschein Theater: Grotesque power games with prickly stage art
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King Ubu: A bitterly hilarious puppet play about power and excess
When kindness turns into malice and a cowardly upstart reaches for the crown, a grotesque theatrical experience filled with dark humor, puppet theater, and political stakes begins at the Fadenschein Theater. The ensemble Materialtheater presents Alfred Jarry's radical theater classic King Ubu in a new version in Braunschweig on October 24, 2026.
Alfred Jarry's grotesque world of power
At the center of the production are Father and Mother Ubu: a greedy and cruel couple that stops at nothing, including murder, fraud, and unrestrained self-enrichment. Mother Ubu persuades her husband to murder the King of Pompolonia. The plan succeeds, Ubu ascends to the throne, and transforms the realm into an absurd laboratory of power characterized by arbitrariness, greed, and violence.
Jarry's farce, premiered in 1896, is considered a key work of modern theater. Directed by Alberto García Sánchez, this pre-Dada grotesque combines slapstick, bitter wit, and a deliberately exaggerated visual language for the present day. It does not create a dry political lesson, but a fast-paced production that develops its social references through the play itself.
Cacti, cucumbers, and the joy of absurd play
The stage becomes a showcase for a peculiar world of characters. Annette Scheibler and Sigrun Kilger heighten the question of whether it is better to be a cucumber or a cactus for survival. The cacti from the puppet workshop provide a prickly surface to the events and transform the stage design into a surreal landscape between puppet theater, grotesque, and political puppet theater.
The art of acting connects language, facial expressions, gestures, and precise character handling. Music by Andreas Grossmann and Daniel Kartmann enhances the theatrical dynamics, while lighting and set design accentuate the grotesque turns between triumph, threat, and comedic exaggeration. Every movement carries weight, and every thorn becomes a symbol of a world where good intentions tip into new fantasies of malice.
Political puppet theater with dark humor
The dramaturgy makes the abuse of power sensually perceptible without lecturing the audience with an admonishing finger. Ubu gifts and deceives his people, eliminates his opponents, and solely follows his own advantage. It is in this excessive exaggeration that the production unfolds its relevance: populist language patterns, greed, and political arbitrariness appear as grotesque mechanics that compel both laughter and thought.
The ensemble Materialtheater and the Théâtre Octobre Brussels combine modern puppet theater with an anarchic theater tradition. The production is aimed at adults and youth aged 14 and over and lasts about 80 minutes. A post-performance discussion is planned, opening the stage as a space for exchange and discussion.
A concentrated stage experience at the Fadenschein Theater
The Fadenschein Theater presents the performance in a historic building of a former canned goods factory. The intimate hall with around 100 seats creates an immediate theatrical atmosphere, where characters, voices, music, and light have a particularly close impact on the audience. The barrier-free access is via a ramp or a short staircase with handrails; wheelchair spaces are located in the front row.
Conclusion: King Ubu promises a prickly, musical, and politically aware puppet theater experience. Those seeking grotesque stage art, absurd comedy, and an unusual engagement with power and populism will find a sharp production at the Fadenschein Theater. Secure your tickets for this extraordinary theater evening in Braunschweig.
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