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SCENE IT: Visually powerful FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! at the Baxter Theatre
- Barbara Loots
- Mar 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 14
Barbara Loots
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! was first staged in June 1995 at the Weimar Arts Festival in Germany, followed by South African premiere at the then Grahamstown Arts Festival that same year. It has now been revived to the delight of many a theatre lover and is currently onstage at the Baxter Theatre until 22 March 2025.
The nature of a bargain with the devil, a Faustian pact, has intrigued theatre makers and audience members alike for many years, and will definitely continue to do so.
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! has those same intriguing elements and stays true to its German Folklore origin (as initially made famous by Marlowe and Goethe). While William Kentridge’s Faustus is still very much German, he is however also a coloniser of note, plundering the people and the resources of the African continent for his own selfish endeavors under the façade of a pursuit of knowledge.
In tackling the subject of colonialism through the classical lens of a Faustian pact, Kentridge links his historically rooted main character to issues surrounding the ever evasive true freedom our beautiful continent still struggles with on a daily basis. So doing, FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! straddles the past and the present, to great theatrical effect.
In this revived play, Faustus is still a dissatisfied scholar who trades his soul for an extended life in search of knowledge and power, the twist being that he takes himself on an African Safari in pursuit of such.
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! is more than just about a man’s pact with the devil, as it ups the stakes by adding a bet between the Devil and God as to who will ultimately claim Faustus’ soul when his extended stay on earth eventually comes to an end, in answer to the age-old question: To what degree does power actually corrupt?
Wessel Pretorius, as the devil in the details of this play, steals the show. His performance delights as he explores the darkly comedic moments scattered throughout this tragic tale. His portrayal of Mephistopheles is brilliant as he oscillates between mischievous trickster and ruthless demon.
Another stand-out element of FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! is its visual appeal: Kentridge’s animated art is a fully fledged character in its own right, adding an emotional layer that heightens Faustus’ journey.
The actors who double as puppeteers are also undoubtedly talented and for the most part manage to merge with their puppet characters seamlessly to such a degree that at times you almost forget they are not one seamless entity. But actors will act, and there are one or two instances where their movements do appear to fight their puppets, as some overacting creeps in: In those moments you see the actors, ever so slightly, competing with their puppets for the spotlight. These instance are few and far between though.
I am not fully convinced that the puppets bring anything to this play apart from turning it into a show with magnificently crafted puppetry. Part of me wonders how this play would sit artistically if it was simply performed by a cast of actors without extensions of this nature. That, however, is a creative choice, and a visually appealing one at that. I’m willing to leave my question of ‘Why not simply let the actors act?’ at the theatre door.
FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! is a cerebral production: a cautionary tale that immerses itself in the complex issues and ideas of idealism, imperialism, materialism and self-preservation —ultimately there is more on the line than simply one man’s soul. You need to really stick with the characters, be aware of the nuances of the journey unfolding, as well as the pitfalls set for Faustus and those who unfortunately cross his path, while taking in the full visual setting (with the projected animated art, the star). If you can manage all of that you will experience the full impact of FAUSTUS IN AFRICA!
This level of concentration is a bit of an ask at a running time of a 100 minutes without interval: At the 80 minute mark it becomes a bit of an exercise in endurance. On the evening that I saw the play, it was at this time stamp that I observed people shifting around in their chairs and stifling a yawn or two. So, go see it, but go see it when you are mentally agile and fully capable of appreciating a beautifully packaged piece of theatre history.
Kentridge’s FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! amplifies the power of storytelling with puppetry by the Handspring Puppet Company, and music by Warrick Sony and the late James Phillips, with all of this underscoring the triumph of Kentridge’s animations. You can see FAUSTUS IN AFRICA! at the Baxter Theatre until 22 March 2025. Tickets can be booked online through Webtickets.