A grotesque and anarchic king seizes power, plunging his kingdom into a spiral of absurdity and violence. King Ubu, driven by insatiable greed and a complete lack of morality, conspires with his wife, Mere Ubu, to overthrow the good King Wenceslas of Poland. Following the regicide, Ubu's reign is marked by arbitrary decrees, mass executions, and a descent into utter chaos, all while he attempts to steal the royal treasury and escape the consequences of his actions. The plays are characterized by their crude language, slapstick humor, and a deliberate rejection of traditional dramatic conventions, often breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience.

Alfred Jarry's Ubu plays are widely recognized as foundational works of the avant-garde and a significant precursor to absurdist theater. Critics often highlight the plays' radical departure from conventional dramatic forms, their audacious use of vulgarity, and their potent, if chaotic, satire of power and human folly. The character of Ubu himself has become an enduring archetype of tyranny and buffoonery, influencing countless subsequent works in literature and theater. While initially met with scandal and outrage, the plays are now celebrated for their groundbreaking spirit and their enduring commentary on the darker, more absurd aspects of human nature and society.