Faustus was a past production by Mixta.mt, written and directed by Bryan Muscat and produced by Clayton Pace and Bryan Muscat. Staged at the Black Theatre in Blata l-Bajda in March 2025, it marked an important moment in Muscat’s artistic journey: his return to theatre after many years focused mainly on television. Although the production belonged to Mixta.mt, it is also included on Lemonhead’s website because Bryan was one of its co-producers and because the project represents a significant chapter in his theatre work.
For Muscat, Faustus was more than another stage production. Theatre had been part of his life since childhood, but his television commitments had kept him away from the stage as both actor and director. When he decided to scale back his television work, he returned to a theatrical idea that had stayed with him for years.
The play is inspired by the legend of Dr Johann Faustus, the man who sells his soul in exchange for knowledge, power and fulfilment. Muscat reimagined the story as a modern Maltese adaptation, shifting it from its earlier medieval concept into a contemporary setting closer to today’s audiences.
The production explored themes of good and evil, faith, free will, temptation, consequence and the questions people ask about justice, belief and what may lie beyond death. These ideas made Faustus a strong choice for Muscat’s comeback, offering a story that could speak to audiences with different beliefs and perspectives.
Faustus also became an important collaboration between Bryan Muscat and Mixta.mt. After an earlier theatre project, Ħolm tal-Milied, was halted by Covid-19 restrictions and later filmed for broadcast, Faustus became their first full stage collaboration. The process included auditions, script work, rehearsals and detailed character development.
While it remains a Mixta.mt production, its presence on Lemonhead’s website reflects Bryan Muscat’s role in the project and the production’s importance within his wider creative story. As writer, director and co-producer, Muscat helped bring a classic tale into a Maltese, contemporary form, making Faustus both a Mixta.mt milestone and a meaningful part of Lemonhead’s theatrical record.
