Mistero Buffo

Name: Mistero Buffo
Start: 2026-10-02T19:00:00+00:00
Location: Lowry

Lowry

Pier 8, The Quays

Fri 2 Oct · 20:00

Manchester

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About this event

Rhum + Clay present Dario Fo’s devilishly funny masterpiece, Mistero Buffo, a darkly comic look at the absurdities and inequalities of everyday life, as seen through the eyes and tales of a travelling storyteller. Banned as blasphemous for many years, but perhaps even more relevant now, Mistero Buffo takes an unflinching but humorous aim at those who manipulate truth and belief for power and control. With culture wars driving division and a pandemic that has highlighted vast economic inequalities, can laughter (and a little righteous anger) help unite us? A tour-de-force that won Julian Spooner The Stage’s Award for Best Performance, this is an extraordinary, virtuosic romp through a hundred characters and locations in the person of one man. Our 21st century travelling storyteller, yet another employee of the gig economy, rushes from his last job of the day to deliver a subversive, gleeful rallying cry for the disillusioned and disenfranchised… Adapted by Julian Spooner & Nicholas Pitt Performed by Julian Spooner Directed by Nicholas Pitt Reviews ★★★★ “Spooner tackles a huge cast of characters… with astonishing sharpness and clarity” - The Guardian ★★★★★ “Magnificent production… with an outstanding performance” - The Stage ★★★★★ “A shape-shifting, body-popping, mesmerising performance” - WhatsOnStage ★★★★★ “Julian Spooner is simply outstanding” - British Theatre Guide

dario fo physical theatre comedy social satire italian theatre

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Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.

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