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Fahiem Stellenboom
Thirty years after its premiere and following on from its resounding success, William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company re-unite to present Faustus in Africa! at The Baxter from 26 February to 22 March 2025.
This collaboration is a re-working of their multi-award-winning 1995 production of the same name, directed by Kentridge, with design and puppet-mastery by Handspring Puppet Company and Lara Foot as Associate Director.
The impressive cast comprises Atandwa Kani, Jennifer Steyn, Wessel Pretorius, Eben Genis, Mongi Mthombeni, Asanda Rilityana and Buhle Stefane.
This gleefully irreverent encounter with the ‘Faustian Pact’ is an ageless tale and remains a powerful metaphor for our times. Its themes of compromise are universal. They make urgent sense to each successive generation. The betrayal of one’s better judgment for short term gain tempts us all and is the burning question behind our climate emergency and the trade-offs and expediency that underly the desperate problems the world is facing today.
Faustus in Africa! is a harmonious blend of theatre and puppetry, with music by Warrick Sony and the late and James Phillips, underscoring Kentridge’s animations. Faustusgoes on a darkly comedic journey to enjoy all that Africa has to offer. His safari becomes a rampage of greed and passion.
The 2025 version is produced by Quaternaire/Paris and restaged with support from co-commissioner Théâtre de la Ville/Festival d'Automne (Paris) and co-producers The Baxter (Cape Town), Centre d'art Battat (Montreal), Cité européenne du théâtre - Domaine d’O - Montpellier / PCM2025 (Montpellier), Grec Festival (Barcelona), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Thalia Theater GmbH (Hamburg).
William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company’s Faustus in Africa! celebrates 30 years of collaboration, at the Baxter Flipside from 26 February to 22 March 2025, at 7.30pm with Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
Booking is now open at Webtickets online or at Pick n Pay stores. For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities, contact Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her at carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.