A Tribute to Dario Fo

Dario Fo, who died in October, aged 90, was one of the most influential playwrights, directors, artists, and actors of his generation. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1997, his work, which satirised post-war Italian politics and society, was translated into over 30 languages, and widely performed. His most famous play, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, was written after a man who was suspected of being involved in a terrorist attack, died after 'falling' from a window while in police custody.

However, his work always seemed to gather special momentum in Scotland, and in the 1980s, Fo, and his wife, Franca Rame, who was his frequent collaborator, performed a number of times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Notoriously critical of foreign productions of his work – Fo was said to be so incensed by the West End staging of Accidental Death of an Anarchist that he threatened to withdraw the production rights – he gave his blessing to Borderline Theatre’s production of Trumpets and Raspberries, which starred Andy Gray and Elaine C. Smith, and was directed by Morag Fullarton, and was regarded by Fo as, “The best my play’s ever been done outside Italy!”

“His work was brave, revolutionary and masterful at communicating the tragedy of politics through comic satire and farce,” begins Rishaad Moudden, Assistant Producer at Borderline Theatre. “We're proud to have brought seven of his wonderful plays to life in Scotland since 1983, with a highlight being our 1990 production of Mistero Buffo starring Robbie Coltrane.”

It’s perhaps poetic that Fo left just as Whipping With Colours, Dancing With Words, the festival created in his honour, was beginning. Fo himself was due to appear at the Lyceum to give a talk about his life and career, until his failing health forced him to pull out. The festival continued, but his absence, and later his death, was felt.

“Dario Fo was a great theatre maker. He forged a link between theatre, carnival and protest,” begins David Greig, the Artistic Director at the Lyceum Theatre. “Scottish theatre owes him a great debt. His methods and ideas fuel much of our work today. That’s why we wanted to honour him with a festival and to welcome him onto our stage to speak. We’re very sad he could not come, but proud that we at the Lyceum, and Scottish theatre more generally, were able to demonstrate our affection and respect for The Maestro in his final days by planning and staging this festival.”

Performers at the festival also paid tribute to Fo, with Mark Thomas, who performed 100 Acts of Minor Dissent at the Traverse, saying, “Dario Fo was a genius who pried open the gates of a glorious pasture in which political theatre makers now frolic. At the age of 18, Accidental Death of an Anarchist left me delirious with joy and anger. It threw down a gauntlet to the establishment and screamed at every one of us to raise our game. Salut!”

Dario Fo leaves behind a large and impressive body of work, but this legacy and his commitment to his work are what will inspire future generations for years to come. As Eleven Press, who helped organise Dancing With Colours, Whipping With Words said, “We look forward to seeing today’s theatre-makers continue his legacy.”