"Through a crimson and blue haze, a band supports the performers who draw attendees into a liminal space that’s halfway between saloon and salon. Seated around wine barrels, dining on The Rolling Om’s seafood chowder and manuka smoked pork ribs or tofu with creamy polenta, the audience were treated to a spectacle that played with the ‘pataphysical’ possibilities of the Crossroads concept....If you’re after an antidote to the stream-lined nine to five, whisk yourself away to the Free Theatre’s next Ubu night. It’s my new favourite thing about Friday."
Ubu meets the devil in disguise as Delaney Davidson to sell his soul. As he cannot find it he invites you to find it with him in Marlowe and Goethe, Tom Waits and William Burroughs, Nick Cave, Diamanda Galas and other “familiars” of Ubu Night.
|
Round up the usual suspects. Join Ubu and his friends at Rick’s Bar in The Gym in The Arts Centre. Sit back in the shadows and remember for old times sake. A Moroccan night where the music turns from blues to noir. If you don't go, you'll regret it, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.
“We came along to the Ubu event last night after reading your excellent article in the Press… what a bright ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy city! My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the night and were immensely impressed by the artistry and richness of the whole experience. We kept saying afterwards how extraordinary to find this here! Please pass on our warm regards to all involved. As we’re often in Christchurch for business, we’ll be sure to come and see you again and let others know. When is your next event? And will John Key again be attending?” |
|
Come join us at the crossroads and sing the blues. As the sun goes down, and darkness takes a hold, he’s waiting for you here, the fallen prince, the great actor, serving wine, food and song to ease the pain. Come on Sinnerman, you be amongst friends here, sittin round the table with the great rebel and his horde of black riders: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, The Doors, Diamanda Galas, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits and Nick Cave.
As a lead-in to the Cavell Leitch New Zealand Jazz and Blues Festival in The Gym, Free Theatre presents a special ‘The Devil and the Blues' Ubu Night. Terrific food, talented musicians and great atmosphere. Had a brilliant time. Devil behind the bar suggested Lucifer's Lager and another one hissed at me as she crawled across the table. So much fun." Talented artists....a great night!" It was incredibly awesome your version of (Loverman) last night." |
|
Images by Marine Aubert.
Punks not dead. No future survives in Christchurch. So come down to The Gym in The Arts Centre and grab a pint and a packet of crisps at the bar and dance the pogo with Ubu, Johnny, Sid, Joe, Siouxsie, Joan and Patti. God save the queen, we mean it man.
|
"Awesome night again. Thanks" "Ah, so good. I feel alive again for the first time since the Bowie Night. Bless". |
Images by Damià Prat
|
Oh don’t ask why! For if we don’t find the next whisky bar, I tell you we must die! Ubu’s back in town. Join Ubu, Jenny, Polly, Lucy and their friends, for an evening at Brecht’s Whisky Bar in The Gym, the Arts Centre. It’s not all whisky though, we also have beer, wine and songs. Fatted calves are already being slaughtered for your masticating pleasure. But you must have dollars at the door. Three pennies won’t cut it. Oh, you know why!
|
"I didn't expect to find something like this in Chch" "Loved that, thanks!" "We weren't expecting that. The best $10 we've spent in a long time. Congratulations" |
|
Images by Damià PratThe great trailblazer of musical trends and pop fashion King Ubu invites you to an evening with his partner in glam-rock David Bowie. Bowie will be returning to ground control for one night only in The Gym, the Arts Centre, where sounds and visions from his life on earth will be presented for your auditory, visual and gustatory pleasure. A lineup of Christchurch performance artists and musicians are busy preparing themselves for Bowie’s reincarnation, so put on your red shoes, step through the door and join Ubu and his friends for an evening of stardust.
“It was definitely an amazing night!” “Thanks UBU for such an inspirational night of lush talent and social connectedness. x” “Great night, fantastic performances” "A beautiful, magical evening" |
The City of Berlin had two periods in its history when it inspired and gave shelter to innovative and international artists - both after the two world wars that Germany caused and lost. Ubu and his friends pay homage to these times, playing music, from the cabarets where Marlene Dietrich performed and the Broadway musical based on them to the edgy, jazzy New Wave of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Nick Cave and U2.
Comments: "SUPER, continuez ......" "Love it." |
You guys may not be eking out the Gerry Brownlee millionaire lifestyle but you do wonders for my mental health!" It was a great evening last night. Do it again sometime!" |
Images by Damià Prat
|
Images by Damià Prat and Stuart Lloyd-Harris
|
The great inventor and scientist Ubu von Frankenstein invites you to a night of his rarely seen experiments, where monsters previously unimagined will be presented for your auditory, visual and gustatory pleasure. A menu of delights will be brought to life in his castle at The Gym, The Arts Centre. Join Ubu von Frankenstein (and his guests including Diamanda Galas, Arcade Fire and PJ Harvey) for a celebration of his best inventions. What new joys will be unleashed together in this hotbed laboratory of creative endeavour!
Comments: "Awesome night thanks" |
Journey down the rabbit hole and join Ubu and his friends (Tom Waits and The Beatles) in Wonderland at The Gym for our latest Ubu Night. You never know where you’ll end up. Enjoy special tea and Mock Turtle Soup with the Mad Hatter while escaping the fury of the Red Queen and listening to the woeful tunes of Humpty Dumpty. The White Rabbit is sure to appear and the Cheshire Cat will tell you exactly where to go. We’re all mad here!
"Ubu nights are not too be missed if you want to be entertained with quality performances as well as being able to enjoy a simple glass of wine in good company!" |
|
Exploring the countercultural world of The Beat Generation, Free Theatre company inhabit words, music and performances of angelheaded hipsters such as Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Cassidy, Kyger and Vollmer. As they weave their yarns and burn for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo, a hip concoction of Jazz and Frisco cuisine is on offer.
"You cats sure are the most. We dig your scene and we flipped out over your Beat night. Later xx" "Thanks for having me last night, I loved it!" "OMG, the Beat night was fantastic! We're loving the way you manage to make a whole night seem effortlessly enjoyable and yet clearly must be working your arses off - when is the next one?" |
|
This Ubu Night is inspired by American writer H.P. Lovecraft and his cosmic horror fiction. Lovecraft most famously said, “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” Free Theatre takes the audience on a journey into the unknown, where “hidden and fathomless worlds of strange life in unholy dimensions which only the dead and the moonstruck can glimpse” and “insane shouts and harrowing screams, soul-chilling chants and dancing devil-flames” threaten the sanity of anyone who dares to heed the Call of Cthulhu! "When we cross the line to the boundless and hideous unknown—the shadow-haunted Outside—we must leave our humanity—and terrestrialism at the threshold.” Creole cuisine and early American Jazz and Folk are provided to help lift the spirits. |
"Well that was out of left field. Just wanted to write and say how energizing the experience was. Thanks."
"Thanks, we really enjoyed ourselves. Nice to have a place to go where there's always something new and inspiring happening". |
|
|
This Ubu Night is inspired by Andy Warhol and his extraordinary Factory. The Superstars come out for an exciting night: Velvet Underground with Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico, Edie Sedgwick, Viva, Jim Morrison and Warhol himself. Free Theatre explores what made The Factory such a hotbed of creativity and invention.
Comments: "Brilliant! Music, performance, food - all outstanding." "Great idea - The Gym as The Factory." "...this is the sort of funky arts scene that will make The Arts Centre hum. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!" "Again please!" |
The Kafka Ubu Night sees the Free Theatre company create an environment that weaves together film, music and performance inspired by the great dreamer’s work. In a city and time that has been described as Kafkaesque – often surreal and dreamlike – this evening’s entertainment seeks to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar. Through intimate lighting and evocative soundscape, combined with tasty morsels of Kafka’s Czech homeland, this Kafka Ubu Night provides yet another unique experience in the company’s new home in the Arts Centre – The Gym.
Comments: "Kafka in Christchurch. Spot on!" "Excellent!" |
|
Inspired by the work of David Lynch, this Ubu Night sees company members present music and 'quotes' from his films. And of course the menu is tailor-made for the evening.
Comments: "Just what Christchurch needs. Something new and completely different. Congratulations. Looking forward to more from you talented people" "Loved the David Lynch last night, guys. Felt like I was actually in the Roadhouse bar. Only thing missing was Michael J Anderson :)" "My dream come true" |
|
|
|
Free Theatre regularly collaborates with Tango Vibe for Milongas with a difference. A series of musical and performance pieces are complimented by Argentinian cuisine.
Comments: “A big thank you to all the performers helpers and staff for offering Christchurch such a wonderful venue and experience. Our Tango community had the privilege of experiencing Free Theatre at our UBU Milonga tonight. It was a big success and hopefully we can look forward to repeating it again in the near future.” “Created a truly special atmosphere last night. Great to see total newbies feel comfortable enough to get up and have a dance, a nice mix of music, trapeze and the inexplicable. And great food! I kept imagining someone having just arrived in Chch stumbling upon this last night -- what a great bar!” “The Ubu Milonga was fantastic! Thank you Free Theatre for hosting us -- we'd love to come back! :) “ “That was such a special night. Thanks so much, it was a real treat to dance somewhere so interesting and historic” “Yes it was cool. They (Free Theatre) are doing a great job bringing something different and was fun to be part of it. Hope we can do it again” “What a great night. Every one seemed to enjoy it and the feedback is great. A successful collaboration” |
'UBU UBU NIGHT', (held for the first time on September 5 2014) is dedicated to Dada and Surrealist friends like Alfred Jarry, Tristan Tzara, Hugo Ball, Frida Kahlo, Eric Satie, Arnold Schönberg, and others. Platters with French delicacies are served.
Comments: “…fantastic venue, ambiance, performance... thanks for an inspiring night. Bodes well for the revival of our city” "What a great night and how lovely to 'meet' such interesting people" "What an awesome beginning to the Arts Centre's new life. Great job guys can't wait to come back again" |
|
