RIP David Hockney, one-time and equivalent designer for Ubu

An often overlooked stint in David Hockney’s career was his first work for the theater, designing sets and costumes for a 1966 production of Ubu Roi at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Critics received it tepidly: they found it quaintly un-shocking and were never sure when they were meant to laugh. But it was nevertheless an occasion for the great young artist to mull the classic play’s iconography – and perhaps its author’s strong opinions on scenery. Thus, we are the beneficiaries of his distinctive vision of the Ubuverse. His vision differs from historical and received Ubus more in tone than in form, but we know that Ubu offers no precedent. This perfectly equivalent Ubu belonged to Hockney.

A program from the production is held in the Society’s collection, and his preparatory notes and drawings are widely available.