Scenes from early plays

Dr Faustus conjures Mephistophilis. From the edition of Dr. Faustus of 1631.
By permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library.

In this early woodcut of Marlowe's play, Mephistophilis appears for the first time to Dr. Faustus, who is standing in a magic circle for protection.

The picture is not specifically of a stage performance, but the appearance of the Devil from below suggests a trapdoor; Faustus' costume, and the other properties may also have been used on stage.