Ubu Cocu by Alfred Jarry

**** This programme was suggested by Aisha Martowidjojo as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend ****

Can scholar Mr Achras cope with the arrival of the terrifying and cruel Pa Ubu, creator and practitioner of pataphysics?

Pa Ubu - pataphysician and self-proclaimed financial master - forcibly takes over the house of scholar, Mr Achras, and begins a reign of terror, extorting money from citizens....

A 'pataphysical extravanganza' written by Alfred Jarry.

Starring John Sharp, John Moffatt and Noel Howlett

English translation 'Ubu Cuckolded' from the French by Cyril Connolly.

Pa Ubu, sometime King of Poland .... John Sharp
Ma Ubu .... Margaret Wolfit
Pa Ubu's Conscience .... John Moffatt
Achras (breeder of polyhedra) .... Noel Howlett
Rebontier .... Ralph Truman
Scytotomille .... Ronald Baddiley
Memnon .... Geoffrey Matthews
Crapentake .... Peter Pratt
Binanjitters .... Brian Hewlett
Fourzears .... Gordon Faith

Narrated by Preston Lockwood.

Music by John Beckett.

In 1965 the BBC Radio Times described the play's author:

"Alfred Jarry, 1873-1907, [French] poet, eccentric, bohemian who scandalised his contemporaries. He is now regarded as one of the forerunners of modern [avant-garde] drama. He created King Ubu [Ubu Roi], a monstrous image of the greed and cruelty of humanity. Ubu Cocu is the third and last of his cycle of Ubu plays. It came to light as late as 1945, and was published [in first English translation] by Cyril Connolly in 'Horizon' [magazine]".

In 2021, Sir Paul McCartney chose this very 1965 production whilst appearing on BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life. Talking about the impact of radio upon his early life, he said:

“When I was driving up to Liverpool from London, I heard Ubu Cocu, which is Alfred Jarry - this is lesser known – he’s known for Ubu Roi – but Ubu Cocu was great, and it was a great BBC production on the radio, and I listened to it all the way up…..really got well into that, and the whole thing about Jarry and pataphysics, which is a non-science that he invented. So it ended up in the lyrics for one of my songs”.

The song was The Beatles' Maxwell’s Silver Hammer ["Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical / Science in the home...."].

No name logged for the rather posh announcer.

Adapted for radio, and produced by, Martin Esslin.

First broadcast on the BBC Third Programme in December 1965.

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