The acclaimed adaptation of Dario Fo’s "Mistero Buffo" by Rhum + Clay is set to kick off the new season at Pleasance Theatre London, running from Tuesday, September 23 to Saturday, October 11, 2025. This award-winning production, praised for its physical storytelling and biting social commentary, promises to be as timely as ever.
Julian Spooner, co-creator and solo performer, takes on over a hundred characters in this contemporary retelling of Fo's controversial masterpiece. Spooner portrays a modern-day Deliveroo driver who, between shifts, launches into subversive ancient tales that directly satirize established power structures. This adaptation, with additional writing by Spooner and Nicholas Pitt (who also directs), transforms Fo's fiercely political work into a rallying cry for the exploited and disenfranchised, resonating deeply with today's societal concerns.
Originally premiering in 2018, this version of "Mistero Buffo" garnered significant accolades, including The Stage Award for Acting for Julian Spooner during its Edinburgh Fringe run. The production has since toured across the UK, France, and Australia, continually adapting to the evolving political climate.
Spooner and Pitt expressed their excitement for the return, noting the current global turbulence. "The world seems even more febrile now; a second Trump presidency bringing global turbulence, the unending horrors of Gaza and Ukraine, the threat to democracy from tech oligarchs… feels like a good time to bring back a show that is full of riotous anger and satirical humour taking swipe at those in power," they commented.
The show is an impressive feat of solo performance, with Spooner conjuring entire scenes and characters through his physical presence alone, inviting the audience to engage their imagination. This "empty space production" aims to provide both "active hope, respite in laughter and maybe fire them up a bit too."
Press Night for 'Mistero Buffo' is scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The show has a running time of approximately 75 minutes and is suitable for ages 12+.
