Hannah - Unicorn theatre

FOUR STARS

PUTTING on a re-imagining of Marlowe's Dr Faustus for a young audience is ambitious but the Unicorn Theatre has done it well with its version, Hannah.

Hannah (Kae Alexander) is a normal teenager with normal teenage emotions and thoughts, hopes and fears. She lives with her mum, a scientist researching climate change, and her pet lizard Dave and confines herself to her bedroom most of the time.

However, when she wishes she was the centre of the universe, her pet lizard Dave (Ian Keir Attard) comes to life as the devil in human form and tells her he can grant her any wish her heart desires - for a price of course.

This "small" price is her soul, which we see downloading onto the computer, whilst Dave shows Hannah what she can have if she really wants it.

For some teenagers this would pose no problem at all but Hannah doesn't really want wealth, fame and absolute power. She is much more thoughtful and wonders what it would be like to have no wars.

It means Dave has to use all his cunning to trap her and Hannah, wide eyed and innocent, goes along with his plan.

It is an ingenious and clever script and beautifully acted by the four-strong cast. To add to the production there is a chorus who explains what is going on, as well as clever uses of magic, special effects and trickery.

And it is a powerful reminder, simply told, for the mainly young audience, that you should always be careful what you wish for.

Hannah is on at the Unicorn Theatre, Tooley Street until Sunday, March 9. Tickets from £10. Call the box office on 020 7645 0560.