Faustus: That Damned Woman

by Chris Bush

'Oh, if you knew the lives we women lead
You'd understand the Devil is a catch.'

In this radical reimagining of the classic cautionary tale, Johanna Faustus makes the ultimate sacrifice and sells her soul to wrestle control of her own destiny. She travels through time and changes the course of human history, but can she escape eternal damnation?

Chris Bush's devilishly provocative play That Damned Woman is inspired by the works of Marlowe, Goethe and other versions of the Faust myth – and explores what women must sacrifice to achieve greatness, and the legacies that are left behind.

That Damned Woman was co-produced by Headlong and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, in association with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and first performed at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in January 2020 before touring the UK.

Genres: Plays

111 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2020

Reviews

[holly gc]

The best play I’ve read in so so long. So refreshing after going through all of Arthur Miller’s. 🙃

There’s so much power in this and I recommend it to any and every person. Read this, and forget Marlowe hahah only joking …

[Nicole]

There's not another woman like her. Read it aloud, alone.

[Posh]

Read it twice. I wanted to know the story before I took the leap to London to go see it performed live but I missed my opportunity.

The story is phenomenal, it is a rework of the other two works based on Faustus. This is so much stronger than the original sources as it’s been used in the right context. Well done Chris Bush.

[Hilda Moreno]

Read it for the NHB playgroup.
This is incredible. Faustus stands for every woman trying to make her way in a world of men. As individuals we may be condemn to fail but in our journey we plant seeds, we leave a legacy and in that way we are "damned but not lost".

[Cal]

Flawless dialogue - witty, deep, surprising. The story takes you further and further into Faustus's life, her frustrating choices, and the consequences that come. A fantastic play. I only wish I'd seen it!

[Natalie]

Heartbreaking and gorgeous. One of the more successful contemporary attempts at a sweeping historical epic that hopscotches through time that I’ve experienced. That feels like a ridiculous thing to write, but I really have run across so many of these plays.

[Peter Pedro]

perhaps not my favourite chris bush, maybe just because i don't like faustus that much, but still brilliant and strong and interesting. again, it amazes me how woke and historical she can be at the same time.

[Mark]

A very effective adaptation of the Faustus/Faust story. Beautifully written and seems very stage able.

[Leila Miriam]

2.5 *

[hayden avaree]

doing this play for our uil one act this year… i’m so obsessed with this story and beyond excited to put it on stage to tell faustus’ story