28 June – 5 July
Based on Klaus Mann’s controversial 1936 novel of the same name, Mephisto is set in 1930s Germany and follows a passionate theatre troupe as insidious political shadows close in on society.
The story feels hauntingly relevant to this 21st century audience, where the far right is rising both in Europe and the world. The book followed one character, Hendrik, but this story had been adapted to fit an ensemble, allowing each actor often through multiple parts, to impress upon the audience: quite fitting to its socialist message.
Mephisto is a haunting exploration of ambition, compromise and the seductive power of fame. Hendrik (Philip Baytun) captures both the boldness and naivety of the character, launching himself into new worlds and new ideas.
The promenade performance was impressive, and not just because, during a heatwave, the underground arches of the Loco Klub were surely the coolest place to be in Bristol.
The actors commanded our attention, bringing energy and anarchy to the performance. We were instructed to move through the tunnel’s scene by scene, urged by enthusiastic callings of “We’re having a picnic!” or “It’s time for dinner”. 
The production design adequately captured the multiple worlds we were transported through. The underground setting emphasized the impact of these clandestine meetings.
At times we felt like part of the action – whether in the dressing rooms behind the stage, or as the audience as the actors rehearsed their political pieces. At other times we were voyeurs, witnessing the intimate moments of the B stories that weave throughout.
These quiet moments lifted the weight of the politics and fed into the soap-opera style romantic tension that can comes from a close-knit group of young hearts and minds. Standing out particularly, was the tension between Otto (Liam Hickley) and Carola (Hollie Hurrell) whose intensity of interactions transported us back into pre-war Europe, where everything and anyone could be lost in an instant.
It felt at some moments that perhaps the company leant a little too much into the anarchy, which led to a little confusion as to who they were and what we were watching: a play? Or a play within a play? But we were carried through by the strong performances and the multiple worlds they built – it doesn’t necessarily always matter that I know where I am, only that I believe it.
Mephisto is a gripping and unsettling production that resonates deeply with the current political climate.
★★★★☆ Beth Teverson, 1 July 2025
Photography credit: Edward J Felton