Writer: Christopher Marlowe
Director: Benedict Esdale
Would you sell your soul to the devil? Benedict Esdale’s production of Doctor Faustus makes us wonder if a deal with a demon is worth losing our souls.
The Old Red Lion Theatre has performed a feat rarely seen in theatres nowadays. They put on six shows in six weeks with the same six actors. Dr Faustus is the last show of their Flywheel Repertory Theatre Season. Premiering in London theatres in the 1590s, Christopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus is an Elizabethan tragedy focusing on knowledge, pride, and biblical themes. The play follows Dr Faustus, a greedy and prideful scholar bent on acquiring unlimited knowledge. To achieve his goals, he sells his soul to (spelt here as) Mephistophilis. For 24 years, Dr Faustus and Mephistophilis travel and perform magic until the time their agreement reaches its end.
Esdale’s production of Dr Faustus does not begin until after a short production called Goldfish by Alison Viña. This one-woman show, starring Gaia Passaler and directed by Lucy Davidson, follows a young playwright. After one too many rejections, she attempts to drown her sorrows at the Old Red Lion Pub. A mysterious man offers her a chance to become a great playwright and to perform a piece at the upstairs theatre… in exchange for her soul. This short, witty piece perfectly sets up the stage for Esdale’s Dr Faustus as the audience ponders the ramifications of selling one’s soul.
Once The Goldfish ends, Dr Faustus begins. This production is fast-paced, barely an hour. Dr Faustus’s plight quickly captures the audience, and this is due to Joseph Stanley. Using the small, intimate theatre, Stanley plays off the audience and engages them by locking eyes, using fist bumps or even a well-placed wink. The Elizabethan English comes easily to him, making his Dr Faustus easy to follow and a character to root for.
In addition to Stanley, Rachel Bardwell, Sadie Pepperrell, and Charlie Woodward excel in their performances. Each actor plays numerous roles, with usually only one or two differences in their costume or mannerisms to distinguish a role change. Their witty exchanges lighten the serious atmosphere throughout the play. While all three actors are impressive, Woodward’s Lucifer steals the scene from Stanley’s Dr Faustus. In fact, his performance as the devil is so strong, it’s a bit jarring that two actors play Mephistophilis.
Typically played by one actor, this production splits Mephistophilis’ role into two. Gabriel Lumsden and Shanice Petilaire are decent at playing the character, but splitting this lead role does not add to the story. Lumsdem and Petilaire are unable to capture the essence and charm this character usually exudes within the play.
Using props to represent the Good Angel and Bad Angel is an inspired choice. With a skull and simple material to appear as wings, an otherworldly element is offered. The lighting is used well to change certain scenes from serious to lighthearted.
Esdale’s adaptation is well executed and shows how effective and well-done classic work can be performed when there is a strong cast of actors.
Reviewed on 10 October 2025
