Ubu sur la butte is a play condensing Ubu roi into two acts. It was performed with puppets in a cabaret in Montmartre. On this occasion, Jarry shortened the plot and added a prologue spoken between Guignol and the Directeur (Director). The famous guignoliste “Anatole des Champs-Elysées” joined in the play (he was in fact Emile Labelle; Anatole Cressigny had died in 1893, and Labelle had taken up both his name and his theatre). Jarry was overjoyed at his being involved in the play and came up with the character of General Lascy, which “Anatole des Champs-Elysées” performed.

Guignol tells the Directeur (Director) that he thinks highly of theatre. He asks to be introduced to the audience, and jokes with him about being made of wood. Ubu kills the king Venceslas. The Queen dies, and the Ombre (Shadow) of one of her ancestors gives the young prince Bougrelas a sword, so that he can avenge his father. Ubu robs and slaughters Nobles, dismisses the judges and makes them all fall through the trapdoor. Ubu goes fight the Russian army, and Mère Ubu (Mother Ubu) and her accomplice Giron try to steal his treasures while he is away. On the battlefield, Ubu is chased out by the Russian army led by the Tzar. An Ours (bear) attacks general Lascy and prevails. In the meantime, Ubu has taken shelter in a tree. Mère Ubu meets her husband and they both prepare to leave for France. But Bougrelas appears and has them arrested by the Gendarmes (Police), and asks for them to locked up in France and for Père Ubu (Father Ubu)’s brain to be removed.