A Brief History of CUPClick on the show logos to see more detailed information about each one. Cruel and Unusual Punishment was formed in 1995 as an alternative forum in which Oxford students and graduates could write and perform their own original comedy material. Although over time CUP's emphasis has moved away from its University origins, and the company now includes numerous non-Oxford members, the current membership retains the initial commitment to originality and comedic excellence for which CUP was founded.
Cruel and Unusual Punishment's first revue took place on a modest scale, running for three nights in Keble College in November 1995. The available comic fare on this occasion included a man with an enormous sword and a Gilbert and Sullivan rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody". The Oxford Student opined that the fully original line-up of sketches, monologues and songs, most of which had been written by members of the seven-strong cast, displayed "solid (if appalling) punchlines" and "consistently funny beginnings, middles and ends". The overall product was, the reviewer found, "clever, keen and fresh".
CUP's second production saw a move to Oxford's altogether more impressive Wadham College Theatre for a full week's run in December 1996. After An Evening's virtually non-existent budget and consequently unimpressive production values, MTJC was altogether smoother and more ambitious, making full use of the greatly improved lighting and stage space in a medley of set pieces both cerebral and surreal. The Oxford Student's reviewer declared the show "very clever... energetic and witty", and repeated his predecessor's "clever, keen and fresh" evaluation. More Than Just Chicken featured at least one orgasm, large amounts of dirty washing-up, and some terrible puns.
Behind The Furniture has been CUP's most artistically and commercially successful revue to date. Taking place once more in Wadham Theatre in October 1997, BTF also featured the company's most ambitious use of staging, constructing a variable stage area largely out of enormous piles of furniture. Presented with hunchbacked clones, accountants in love and some extremely dodgy poetry, the audiences at BTF were enthusiastic, and so were the reviewers. Cherwell considered the show to be "fresher than a newly pulled pint", with "an enthusiastic, novel approach" and "neat and hilarious" dialogue; the Oxford Student opined that it was "a funny, imaginative, original collection of short episodes” which "insists that you sit up and jolly well laugh"; while The Word described it as "a superb series of sketches, skilfully written and acted with considerable flair", a "formidable combination of sharp comedy, playful pastiche and downright crude humour" which "sparkles with energy and originality".
Since then, Cruel and Unusual Punishment has made a very popular guest appearance at Merton College Christmas Ball. CUP has also established its own independently recruited Writers' Circle to provide a constant source of fresh material for use in reues. From an initial membership of eight, the company currently boasts over twenty active members, and a large number of associated writers, technicians and stagehands.
After its Edinburgh run, Square Pegs is due to open at Oxford's prestigious Burton-Taylor Theatre on 27 October, while a new original CUP revue is planned for early in the New Year. |
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