For Hallowe’en 2014, FOUR OF SWORDS devised a dark and demented remix of Christopher Marlowe’s classic DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
Once again the show was sold out, and some wicked wildfire word of mouth saw people desperate and clamouring to get tickets!
The show was performed at ST NICHOLAS PRIORY in Exeter, which, appropriately enough for Marlowe’s writing, has been meticulously maintained as a Tudor town house. Our adaptation took place as part of the EXETREME IMAGINATION FESTIVAL.
The Medieval time warp they, and the dimly lit Priory created, was nothing short of sheer brilliance. The bounds of theatre experience have been well and truly broken and for that I thank Four of Swords.
Anita Merritt, Express & Echo
So – all in all – this Faustus is a great show sticking closely to Four of Swords winning formula. Thoroughly recommended and should provoke lots of lively debate and soul-searching… Five stars.
Anna Marks, Remote Goat
The way you interpreted the play, and especially the use you made of the venue, was as exciting a piece of theatre as I have seen since McKellen’s “Lear”.
Audience feedback
I have never before come across anyone doing exactly what you do and it is just brilliant.
Audience feedback
I’ve never seen St Nicholas Priory look so atmospheric. It’s been lovely working with you and I hope we can work together again on a future project.
Jacqui Channon, Events at St Nicholas Priory & Royal Albert Memorial Museum
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ACCOMPANYING EDUCATION WORK
FOUR OF SWORDS’ FAUSTUS was accompanied by two educational endeavours which were organised as part of the “Re-Writing Futures” strand of EXETREME IMAGINATION.
- FILM PROJECT with the Central Devon Personalised Learning Service for students who have been excluded from mainstream education. The outcome of this project was a short movie which was projected as part of our performance. The students were thrilled to see them and their work valued in this way. You can see the film here:
Sarah and Phil managed to inspire, encourage and motivate extremely challenging pupils. I have been so impressed with their materials, session content and presentation. Pupils expressed how ‘inspired’ they have been and all said it has been the highlight of their time at the Centre. This has certainly been the best project that I have worked with in school and I have been working as a teacher since 1983!!!
Teacher feedback, CDPLS
- WORKSHOP for young people interested in learning theatre techniques and stagecraft useful for telling spooky stories. This took place at the Priory and snippets of the event can be seen in the EXETREME IMAGINATION documentary here:
What we liked best: the blood. What we didn’t like: that it had to end!
Participant feedback
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SPIN-OFF SHOW
This version of FAUSTUS spawned a spin-off show, a kind of quasi-sequel called DOCTOR FAUSTUS PRESENTS AN EVENING OF RENAISSANCE MAGIC which was performed at THE DEVON AND EXETER INSTITUTION. Click here or on the title for more information.
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Four of Swords’ FAUSTUS promotional photos by Matt Austin:
Artwork by Philip Kingslan John:
