'BE careful what you wish for' ... we are warned in the excellent theatre programme notes which give an insight into what this very clever 're-imagining' is all about.
On seeing the Storyhouse stage as you enter the auditorium you are drawn to the upside-down trees high up in the ceiling and the greyness of the walls and the solitary chairs.
A timeless place ... or is it?
Your imagination becomes an uncredited supporting member of the seven-strong cast.
You know you are going to work as hard as the performers in this vibrant piece of work from the award-winning writer Chris Bush.
The set - from the outstanding Good Teeth creatives team - is a cold, unwelcoming place using real fire and water as the play unfolds. Costumes are simple - yet quite stunning.
Candlelight brings much needed flickers of life to the walls while darkness speaks volumes.
And there is a remarkable cast who turn Christopher Marlowe's tale of pact-making with the devil on its head with Olivia Sweeney as Johanna Faustus.
Full credit to the ensemble who provide various personas of Mephistopheles as well as Pestilence and War.
The only male in the line-up is played by Matthew Romain (alternating in the run with Daniel Hawksford) as Lucifer and Thomas Faustus the dad as well as a witchfinder.
Directed by Francesca Goodridge this is a very impressive collaboration with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre under Paul Bayes Kitcher.
Fallen Angels, who are Company in Residence at the Storyhouse, work with people in recovery from addiction. Many of the ‘angels’ were involved in the rehearsal process through movement improv sessions.
This is a unique collaborative production where everyone contributes to the storytelling in a re-working that dares to be different. It consistently conveys a sense of urgency, of speed, ambition and addiction to power.
And there are some delightfully delicious humorous moments to savour.
Special mention goes to Sally Ferguson’s lighting which is both subtle yet powerful.
Faustus takes us with her on a journey through time and space from the Plague to the arrival of artificial intelligence relayed through a very worrying and scary speech.
I would happily go again and I am sure I would see and hear new things I had missed.
If you want a thought-provoking, stimulating re-boot of Faustus then be prepared to enter a dark world and one that will stay with you for a long time to come.
Verdict: Devilishly clever
The production on until February 18
Tickets from Storyhouse.com
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