Punchdrunk’s Faust

Wednesday evening I head down to Wapping to see Punchdrunk’s Faust production. Punchdrunk are doing site specific theatre losely basing it on classic theatre pieces. I had the chance to see The Tempest, 3 years ago.

I had some expectations but this time the setup was amazing. We were welcomed by a lively lift operator who was banging the sliding door in and out in rage. The trend was initiated, you were to be offered treats like drinks in the bar but in what expense, only you would find out.

The environment is setup in a southern state in 1940s America. The designers have done really good work in making the spaces believable. You could not just see, but smell the sets. The cornfield smelled of corn, the wood smelled of pine trees and the beauty parlor of nail varnish. Every object was real, the plastic soldiers in the young boy’s room, the twee decorations, and even the stacks of dusty papers left behind in the maze of shelves that was the old archive, where the play is hosted.

Having explored the five different floors we found ourselves chasing actors who were initiating action. But should we follow Getchen when she was crying and rushing out of the bar or should we follow the dark angel, (who incidentally coming out of a room bashed onto me making the whole thing futher more immersive)? The options were endless for these two amazing hours of live performance.

In the reception there was southern music awaiting us and a drink to warm us up. This maintained the atmosphere of the play even after the play had finished. Reference to the metagame.

Do go there and don’t be seduced by the blond decoy to drag you into the 40s bar and miss the final climax scene. Mephistopheles and Faust, still his young self, initiate Faust’s soul surrender whilst engaging in an acrobatic interaction. Some of your questions will be answered, or the quest to answer them will start.

Visit London theatre blog for some interesting images