for becoming "the great emperor of the world'' for 24 years of his life, provides the somewhat unlikely subject for a musical being staged this week by Saltus Grammar School.

`Dr. Faustus', written by Brian Doggett and Stephen Block, is based on the famous drama by playwright Christopher Marlowe.

Agreeing that this production should prove something of a change from the usual high school fare, director and English teacher Rob Ayton says that, in spite of the subject matter, there is plenty of humour in the piece.

He was first introduced to the musical when Brian Doggett persuaded the Head of Music to stage the show at Ratcliffe College in the UK. Any misgivings about a `home-made' musical, says Mr. Ayton, dissipated once the score had been studied. (The collaborators are in good company: it should be borne in mind that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice began their subsequently meteoric careers with a school production, namely `Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat').

"Surprising as it may seem,'' says Mr. Rob Ayton, "the hero of both the play and the musical is based on a real person, clearly a very colourful character by the name of Johann Faust, who lived from around 1488 to 1541 and whose fame spread all over Europe.'' The German magician's travels and dark association with the evil spirit, Mephestopheles, had been chronicled in England as early as 1572.

Marlowe, a contemporary of Shakespeare, who immortalised the story, lived a life that was almost as dramatic as that of his tragic hero. Widely suspected of being a spy, it is thought that Marlowe's frequent visits to the Continent were related to espionage. Often involved in fights and, on one occasion, deported for forging gold coins, the brilliant playwright was killed on May 30, 1593 in a Deptford tavern in South London. Although his murder is still the subject of much conjecture, most would agree that his murder, at the age of only 30, robbed England of one of its potentially greatest writers.

This `Devilishly Funny Musical' will be performed in the Hall of Saltus Senior School tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, March 1 at 7.30 p.m. nightly. Patrons' tickets (which include wine and cheese before the show and during the interval) are $25, regular price $10 and $5 for students, available at the School Office (telephone 292-6177).

THE MAGIC OF `DR. FAUSTUS' -- Saltus Grammar School presents `Dr. Faustus', a new musical based on the play by Christopher Marlowe, tomorrow through Saturday in the School Hall. Pictured are cast members (left to right) Jenny Lapsley (Wrath), Nick McGarey (Mephestopheles), George Spurling (Duke of Van Holt) and Mark Henderson (Faustus).