Faustus in Africa!
Faustus in Africa!
Through puppetry and animation, Handspring Puppet Company reimagine Faust's downfall and reframe the classic tale to confront colonialism and the climate emergency.
Would you strike a reckless deal with the devil for power, pleasure or profit? Faustus in Africa! reimagines the timeless tale of Faust’s downfall, reframing it to confront the catastrophic costs of colonialism and the climate emergency.
Directed by William Kentridge, this bold re-working of the Handspring Puppet Company’s multi-award-winning 1995 production combines puppetry with Kentridge’s celebrated animations. It follows Faustus on a reckless journey through greed and excess, set on an African safari. The haunting score, featuring Warrick Sony and the late James Phillips, ramps up the drama, while Handspring’s extraordinary puppetry (of War Horse fame) brings a surreal quality to the stage.
Eleven years on from Ubu and the Truth Commission – praised for ‘confounding all kinds of expectations’ (The Times) – Kentridge and Handspring return to the International Festival. With enduring relevance, 30 years after its original premiere, Faustus in Africa! explores the moral trade-offs and compromises that shape our world.
Utterly engrossing
Programme
Handspring Puppet Company
William Kentridge Director, Designer & Animation
Lara Foot Associate Director
Adrian Kohler & Basil Jones Puppetry Directors from Handspring Puppet Company
Enrico Dau Yang Wey Associate Puppetry Director
Adrian Kohler Puppets & Set Designer
Hazel Maree, Hiltrud von Seidlitz & Phyllis Midlane Puppet Costume Designers
Simon Dunckley Special Effects Designer
Robert David Macdonald Translator
Lesego Rampolokeng Additional text
James Phillips & Warrick Sony Music
Wesley France Lighting Designer
Tebogo Laaka Sound Engineer
Cast Eben Genis, Atandwa Kani, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius, Asanda Rilityana, Buhle Stefane & Jennifer Steyn
The 2025 version is produced by Quaternaire/Paris and restaged with support from co-commissioner Théâtre de la Ville/Festival d'Automne (Paris).
Co-producers: The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town (Cape Town), Centre d'art Battat (Montreal), Cité européenne du théâtre - Domaine d’O - Montpellier / PCM2025 (Montpellier), Fondazione Campania dei Festival – Campania Teatro Festival (Naples), Grec Festival (Barcelona), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Thalia Theater (Hamburg).
There will be a post-show talk on 21 Aug. Post-show talks are an informal opportunity for you to connect further with artists. It will begin 10 minutes after the performance ends and is expected to last no more than 30 minutes. You are welcome to stay for as little or as long as suits you.
