29 — 31.05
William Kentridge, Handspring Puppet Company Johannesburg-Cape Town
Faustus in Africa!
theatre
| English → FR, NL | ⧖ 1h30 | €25 / €20 | Gunshots, flashing lights
In 1995, South African visual artist, animated filmmaker, and theatre director William Kentridge created Faustus in Africa! with Handspring Puppet Company. Informed by his deep commitment to the anti-apartheid struggle, the legendary play had Faust set out on safari and plunder the African land and people in his quest for knowledge and power.
The performance was presented at one of the first editions of Kunstenfestivaldesarts. Now, 30 years later, Kentridge has reworked Faustus in Africa!, linking it to extractivism and politics in the new South Africa and globally. Sadly, the question posed by the original theatre classic remains relevant: are we willing to betray ourselves and make an ill-fated deal with the devil for short-term gain?
The new script combines Goethe’s drama Faust with the irony of South African poet Lesego Rampolokeng. A new generation of performers brings to the stage a harmonious blend of theatre and world-class puppetry. James Phillips’ music underscores Kentridge’s stunning animations. A project and an artist that should not be missed at this 30th festival edition.
"Faustus is impish, comedic and magical." - Karen Rutter, 2025, Weekend Special
"Though Kentridge’s inimitable animation is densely and delightfully allusive, connecting disparate dots across a few centuries of visual history — a crisscrossing network of literature, art, geography, philosophy, warfare, architecture, advertising and more — what sustains our interest is the deft theatricality of a committed ensemble, combined with the astonishing puppets they manipulate." - Chris Thurman, 2025, Wanted Online
29.05
30.05
Presentation: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, KVS
Director: William Kentridge | Associate director: Lara Foot | Puppetry directors: Adrian Kohler, Basil Jones (Handspring Puppet Company) | Rehearsal director and 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 Scene Visual Productions | Set painting and 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 and production management: Wesley France | Stage manager and video operator: Thunyelwa Rachwene | Sound engineer: Tebogo Laaka | Video controller: Kim Gunning | Technical manager: Lucile Quinton | Cast: Eben Genis, Atandwa Kani, Mongi Mthombeni, Wessel Pretorius, Asanda Rilityana, Buhle Stefane, Jennifer Steyn | Quaternaire producers: Sarah Ford, Roxani Kamperou, Emmanuelle Taccard
The 2025 version is produced by Quaternaire/Paris and restaged with support from co-commissioner Festival d'Automne, Théâtre de la Ville | Coproduction: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town, Centre d'art Battat, Printemps des Comédiens 2025, Domaine d’O, Fondazione Campania des Festival, Grec Festival, Thalia Theater
The 1995 version was produced by Handspring Puppet Company in association with The Market Theatre, Art Bureau, Kunstfest, Standard Bank National Arts Festival, The Foundation for the Creative Arts, Sharp Electronics and Mannie Manim Productions
FAUST I and II © The Estate of Robert David Macdonald
Robert David MacDonald’s estate is represented by Alan Brodie Representation, London
Handspring Puppet Company is represented worldwide by Quaternaire / Sarah Ford
In memory of James Phillips (1959-1995)
Special thanks to the team at The Baxter Theatre Centre, William Kentridge Studio, Stefanie Carp, Carlo Daniels, Susan Ford, Paul Golub, Joël Gunzburger, Frie Leysen, Konstantinos Liopyris, Grace Lorenzo, Michael Morris, Herman Sorgeloos
With the support of the Ammodo Foundation
