Ubu Projex Press Center

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Long Live Père Ubu!" - The Spactacle
This is the "concert" version of "Bring Me The Head Of Ubu Roi." In many ways it is even more of a radical interpretation and performance than the "theatrical." Some scenes are deleted, the script is re-written to interpret the character of "Mère Ubu" differently, and it is the most up-to-date version of the script. It also incorporates the animations by The Brothers Quay. It is, as Der Tagesspiegel (Berlin) notes, beyond theater. All characters and choreography are undertaken by members of the band. Click here for more.

Bring Me The Head Of Ubu Roi
Pere Ubu presents its musical adaptation of the theater of Ubu Roi, Alfred Jarry's groundbreaking 1896 play and the theatrical precursor to the Absurdist, Dada and Surrealist art movements. The adaptation, written by David Thomas, features 10 new songs as well as various musical "interludes." Independent film-makers The Brothers Quay have devised a unique visual staging in the form of animated video projections. Sarah-Jane Morris (ex-Communards, Happy End, etc) features as Mere Ubu, partnering David Thomas as Pere Ubu. Gagarin adds an atmospheric soundtrack by means of electronica. Band members perform various minor roles. The premiere was Thursday, April 24th, and Friday, April 25th at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, as part of the Ether Festival. It was repeated July 11 2009 at the Animator Festival, Poznan, Poland.
Press photos, click here.

Reflections in a Mirror Man
David Thomas and the pale orchestra perform "Reflections in a Mirror Man," a concentrated dose of David Thomas' music theater piece, Mirror Man, presented in concert format and augmented by specifically contrived movie and image projections. The pale orchestra is Andy Diagram (electrified trumpet), Keith Moliné (midi-guitar) and Dids (drums & electronics). Celtic Soul singer and former Doll By Doll frontman Jackie Leven and David Thomas assume the various characters contained in this anthology of tales about places that don't exist and the people who live in them. The piece premiered at the prestigious Moers Jazz Festival in 2004.

Live Free or Diet
Tales of Meat, Marvels & Texas
A program of songs, stories and visual imagery written and performed by David Thomas and master Danish percussionist P.O. Jørgens. It's an "avant-Texas atmosphere bowl of beans folk roots via Harry Partch and one more blasted dawn lookin for a 3 meat platter with a broken song in your heart" kinda thing.

Mirror Man
Written and compiled by Pere Ubu founder David Thomas, MIRROR MAN is a hybrid of neo-Beat opera and tent meeting testimony. It is an oratorio. Or maybe it is theatre vague. Or a rogue opera. Or a song-cycle of "haunted" geographical presences. Or a roll call of voices retrieved from all those ghost towns that lie just over the horizon. Mirror Man is about places that don't exist and a collection of stories about the people who live there - abandoned by the future, forbidden access to the past, and set adrift in a mirage-like Now. It is represented by three albums: Act 1, Jack & The General, Bay City, and Act 2, Bay City.
Photos & Art.

Disastodrome
Disastodrome is a 3 day festival of voice and vision designed to test the reputations of 18 avant-garage heroes. These boundary breakers, forever outside the world of music-by-numbers, are led by one of rock's great prodigies and Pere Ubu founder, David Thomas. Produced by UCLA Performing Arts, Disastodrome's most recent incarnation came to Los Angeles Feb 21-23, 2003. Photos & Art.