ALFRED JARRY'S Ubu Roi caused a riot in 1896 with its depiction of a tin-pot dictator's rise to power, and Kneehigh's semi-improvised update of the political satire is as riotously funny.

Co-directors Carl Grose and Mike Shepherd have left the play rough around the edges which,  combined with a high level of audience interaction, creates a spirit of anarchy in a production that, in the spirit of Jarry, lacks any subtlety.

Characters are literally flushed down a giant toilet and the often puerile jokes and double entendres create a pantomime of delightful absurdity.

Refereed throughout by host Jeremy Wardle (improv comedian Niall Ashdown), Mr and Mrs Ubu (Katy Owen and Shepherd) deploy charm, humour, blatant lies and violence to grapple their way to presidency in Lovelyville.

Any similarities between the characters and the current government are purely intentional, the programme spells out.

The villainous couple's use of populist tactics, including mass karaoke and the audience participation Ubu Olympics — with games such as Canoodle My Noodle — demonstrate the ease with which the public mood can be manipulated.

It also gives the crowd direct responsibility for the consequence of their actions, with an enjoyment tax being introduced for those having a good time.

The lessons in bite-size politics are assuredly delivered by the cast's energy, which fills out the spaces in Michael Vale’s sparse in-the-round set design.

The moustachioed Owen, with a mop for a wig and tongue-waggling lewdness, is particularly compelling, with her barely contained tics and pompous cowardice.

Yet despite her grotesque characterisation, and that of the wildly lipsticked Shepherd, they succeed in generating an emotional charge, making the ending all the more powerful.

It's then that the audience realise that, in the words of Lou Reed's singalong Perfect Day, they will reap what they sow.

Runs until February 8, box office: kneehigh.co.uk