Dario Fo

Dario Fo married Franca Rame on June 24, 1954. She hailed from a theatrical family and was an actress and writer in her right. The couple had a close bonding and they worked together in all projects. She died on May 29, 2013 at the age of 83.

Dario and Franca’s only child, Jacopo Fo, is also a writer, actor and director. Born on March 31, 1955, he worked with his parents to try and educate the people about AIDS, sexual repression and contraception. His book ‘Lo Zen e l'arte di scopare’ (Zen and the Art of Fucking, 1972) sold more than 70,000 copies.

Dario Fo was born on March 24, 1926 at Leggiuno Sangiano, a town in the Province of Varese in Italy. He was the eldest child of Felice and Pina Rota Fo. As Felice was a station master for the Italian Railway and was transferred regularly, the family did not stay in one place for long, but moved each time he got a new posting.

Each member of Dario’s family was artistically inclined. Apart from working as a station master, Felice was also an amateur actor and a socialist. Pina Rota wrote a book, titled ‘Il paese delle rane’ on the history of her home town. Moreover, his younger brother Fulvio Fo later became a theatre administrator and sister Bianca Fo Garambois, a writer.

As a child, Dario often visited his maternal grandfather, a farmer in Lomellina. During these visits, he accompanied his grandfather as he travelled around the countryside selling his produce. To attract the attention of the buyers his grandfather would often tell amazing stories and insert in them current news and anecdotes. Sitting beside him Dario had his first lesson in storytelling.

Dario was also fond of sitting in taverns or piazzas visited by master glassblowers and fishermen. He would listen intently as they exchanged spicy and long political news that often bordered on satire. They provided the second lesson in storytelling.

In 1940, Dario was admitted to the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, in Milan. Sometime now, he is conscripted by the fascist army of Mussolini, but deserted his post towards the end of the Second World War. For some time, he lay hidden in a small attic room.

Dario Fo’s career took off in 1950, when he caught the attention of Franko Parenti with his rendering of Cain and Abel. Later he was invited by Praneti to take part in his variety show. He impressed the audience with the stories of his upbringing; they were witty but original. Their collaboration lasted until 1954.

In 1955, Fo along with his wife, Franca Rame, moved to Rome in the hope of getting chance in films. Here he started working as a screenwriter for many well-known directors. He finally had his debut in ‘Lo svitato’, a film directed by Carlo Lizzani.

The couple returned to Milan in 1958 and since then has been living here. In 1959, the couple established Campagnia Dario Fo–Franca Rame, a performing company for which Fo wrote scripts, directed the play, acted, designed costumes and stage paraphernalia, while Rame looked after the administration.

It was ‘Gli arcangeli non giocano al flippe’ (Archangels Don't Play Pinball), a two act play first staged in 1959, which brought them international fame. It not only received great reviews in Italy, but was equally appreciated in other countries like Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Poland and Netherland.

In 1962, they had another hit in a satirical show called ‘Canzonissima’. The sketch was aired by the Italy’s national public broadcasting company RAI. It drew million of viewers and at the same time generated great controversies, as a result of which Fo was effectively banned from appearing on Italian television for fourteen years.

Morte accidentale di un anarchico (1974; Accidental Death of an Anarchist) is undoubtedly one of Fo’s most popular works. Considered a classic 20th century theatre, it has been performed in more than 40 countries across the world. It is a farce based on the life of anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli; but the events are all fictional.

’Non si paga, non si paga!’ (1974; We Can’t Pay? We Won’t Pay!) is another of his internationally acclaimed plays. It was translated in English in 1975 and by 1990, it had been performed in 35 countries. It is a Marxist political farce about backlash by the consumers against high prices.

As an actor, Fo is best known for his ‘Mistero Buffo’ (1973; Comic Mystery). The drama is based on medieval mystery plays. However, it was so topical that the shows changed with the change of venue.