PERFORMANCE – PUPPETRY – VISUAL ARTS
Faustus in Africa! is a collaboration between William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company, reworking their multi-award-winning 1995 production of the same name.
An ageless story of ambition, compromise and greed, Faustus in Africa! follows Faustus on a journey through Africa, where his desire to experience all the continent has to offer becomes an increasingly destructive pursuit of power and pleasure. The “Faustian pact” remains a powerful metaphor for our times, raising questions about the compromises we make for short-term gain and their consequences for the world around us.
Directed by William Kentridge, with puppets and design by Handspring Puppet Company, the production brings together theatre, puppetry, music and Kentridge’s distinctive animations. The score features music by Warrick Sony and the late James Phillips.
Duration: 90 minutes.
CREDITS
Director: William Kentridge
Associate Director: Lara Foot
Puppetry Directors: Adrian Kohler & Basil Jones (Handspring Puppet Company)
Rehearsal Director & 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
Sound Design: Simon Kohler
Lighting Design & Production Management: Wesley France
Stage Manager & Video Operator: Thunyelwa Rachwene
Sound Engineer: Tebogo Laaka
Technical Manager: Lucile Quinton
Video Controller: Kim Gunning
Cast (in alphabetical order) : 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 des Festival – Campania Teatro Festival (Naples), Grec Festival (Barcelona), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Thalia Theater (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.