All pact and ready to go

THE devil will be in the detail of the latest theatre offering at the Moonah Arts Centre. Produced by PLoT, the University of Tasmania’s Student Theatre Company, Doctor Faustus is a fresh look into Christopher Marlowe’s classic story of temptation, damnation, and desire.

Doctor Joan Faustus is a university student who wants it all: she wants success, she wants knowledge, and most of all she wants power.

Driven by desire, Faustus makes a pact with the Devil, and is catapulted headlong into a fantastical world of magical visions, devilish liars, and horrors in disguise.

Director Emma Skalicky wanted to show off the range of talents among the cast.

“We at PLoT are particularly interested in exploring through Doctor Faustus how fear of the supernatural can manifest in contemporary audiences, and how to create a cohesive atmosphere that makes such fantasies believable in a theatre,” Skalicky said. “As well as this, we are interested in exploring how femininity and masculinity intersect with, and alter our perceptions of pleasure, temptation, and pride.

“The theatre community is filled with many, many talented and captivating women, and I wanted to do a play where the tragedy, the fantastical, and the challenge of the story could really highlight just how much range and skill these actors have.”

Benedicta McGeown, who plays the Clown and the Seven Deadly Sins, expects the show to win plenty of fans, but also challenge some viewers.

“I think it might be a bit of a mixed reception because it’s kind of a spooky play, there’s a lot of ensemble movement work,” McGeown.

“It might be quite challenging for some people, but I think it will be really eye-opening and a lot of people will be able to think about traditional theatre roles within theatre but also academia and the way that playing with really dangerous concepts in life affect your life and the way that you live it.”

PLoT Theatre Company presents Doctor Faustus at the Moonah Arts Centre from tomorrow until August 5.

Tickets are $25, $20 concession, phone 6234 5998 or go to www.centertainment.com.au for bookings.