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. 

A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.