Aleister Crowley - A Passion For Evil

Highland actor and writer John Burns revives his Edinburgh Fringe play about mountaineer, poet, and black magician Aleister Crowley, known as 'The Wickedest Man in the World'.

The play contains dark humour and material that some people may find offensive.

This is a play about the occultist, mountaineer and poet Aleister Crowley - with a twist or two. The play is a dark portrayal with plenty of humour and was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010. It is a dark story that explores the life of one of the most controversial men of the twentieth century. John Burns gives a chilling performance as a man driven to despair as greatness slips from his grasp.

Born a devout Christian, Crowley, who once lived on the shores of Loch Ness at Boleskine, has become an iconic figure amongst followers of the occult and esoteric religions. He turned against his faith following the death of his father, and plunged into an uncompromising search for the truth.

He explored many religions and eventually found solace in Magick, his own interpretation of the religion of the ancient Egyptians.

Crowley’s quest took him across the world, as a mountaineer he made one of the first attempts on Kanchenjunga. He became a notable, a novelist and a master of the occult writing many great works.

Burns’ play is an exploration of his life and follows Crowley’s journey from a devout Christian to one of the most controversial men of the twentieth century and takes an honest look at the life of man who became known as 'the wickedest man in the world'.