Artlinsk : Faustus in Africa! at The Baxter
Adrian Kohler, William Kentridge and Atandwa Kani. Photo: Fiona MacPherson.
Adrian Kohler, William Kentridge and Atandwa Kani. Photo: Fiona MacPherson.
The William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company’s masterpiece, Faustus in Africa comes to The Baxter, 30 years after its phenomenal success.
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. Faustus goes 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 19:30 with Saturday matinees at 14:30.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Creative Team
Director: William Kentridge
Associate Director: Lara Foot
Puppetry Directors: Adrian Kohler & Basil Jones (Handspring Puppet Company)
Associate Puppetry Director: Enrico Dau Yang Wey
Design: Adrian Kohler & William Kentridge
Animation: William Kentridge
Puppet Construction: Adrian Kohler & Tau Qwelane Puppet
Costumes: Hazel Maree, Hiltrud von Seidlitz & Phyllis Midlane
Special Effects: Simon Dunckley
Set Design: Adrian Kohler
Set Construction: Dean Pitman for Ukululama Projects
Set Painting & Dressing: Nadine Minnaar for Scene Visual Productions
Translation: Robert David Macdonald
Additional text: Lesego Rampolokeng
Music: James Phillips & Warrick Sony
Lighting Design & Production Management: Wesley France
Stage Manager & Video Operator: Thunyelwa Rachwene
Sound Engineer: Tebogo Laaka
Assistant Stage Manager: Grace Lorenzo
Video Controller: Kim Gunning
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Eben Genis, Atandwa Kani, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius, Asanda Rilityana, Jennifer Steyn, Buhle Stefane
Quaternaire Producers
Sarah Ford, Roxani Kamperou, Emmanuelle Taccard
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), Grec Festival (Barcelona), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Thalia Theater GmbH (Hamburg).
The 1995 version was produced by Handspring Puppet Company in association with The Market Theatre, Art Bureau (Munich), Kunstfest (Weimar), Standard Bank National Arts Festival, The Foundation for the Creative Arts, Sharp Electronics and Mannie Manim Productions.
Article published on https://www.newslink.co.