According to legend, Dr Faustus is based on Dr Johann Georg Faust (1480 – 1540), an itinerant alchemist, astrologer and magician of the German Renaissance. Allegedly he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. In modern times the word Faustian has become shorthand for any situation where someone forgoes their morals or integrity in exchange for power and success.

The idea has certainly been fodder for many artists throughout time, there’s plays by Christopher Marlowe (The Tragical History of Dr Faustus) and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Faust), musical works by Franz Lizst (Faust Symphony), Robert Schumann (Scenes from Goethe’s Faust) and Gustav Mahler ( Symphony Number 8 ) as well as operas by Charles Gonoud (Faust), Ferruccio Busoni (Doktor Faustus), and Arrigo Boito (Mefistofele).

Along with these works are others more loosely based on the idea of Faustian pacts from classics such as Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray to more modern references within popular culture such as the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. Within popular music there’s myriad songs referring to Faustian pacts the absurd Tribute Song by Tenacious D, the rock-operatic Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and The Devil went down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band’s are just a couple of examples. We look forward to seeing where Michael Gow and his creative team take this new version of the myth and how it takes shape on the Brisbane Powerhouse stage.