Step Behind The Stage
Mistero Buffo
Pleasance Theatre, London - 26/09/25
Review by Alex King
Photo Credit: Luke Forsythe
In 1969, Dario Fo created a piece of theatre that would later be labelled by the Vatican as “the most blasphemous show in the history of television” following a 1977 broadcast. Despite that controversy, Mistero Buffo has continued to be staged around the world, with audiences still eager to encounter and share Fo’s work. Ed Emery’s translation found new life in Rhum+Clay’s bold and inventive production at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018, and it has now arrived at Pleasance London for a limited run.
Mistero Buffo follows a Jongleur, a travelling minstrel reimagined here as a Deliveroo driver, who recounts a series of biblical stories while interrogating the themes and moral questions within them. At times the piece is brutal, with harrowing moments that are difficult to watch, yet it is threaded with sharp humour that stops it from descending into unrelenting darkness. Even decades on, Fo’s writing feels strikingly relevant, holding the audience in a space that is both reflective and provocative.
Photo Credit: Luke Forsythe
At the heart of the production is its performance. A one man show inevitably rests entirely on the shoulders of its actor, and Julian Spooner rises to the challenge with remarkable assurance. For seventy five minutes he commands the stage with relentless energy. His physicality is extraordinary as he dances, mimes, fights, loves and rages alone, never once allowing the momentum to dip. Armed with an astonishingly elastic face and impeccable timing, Spooner shifts seamlessly between comedy and drama from the moment he first ambles charmingly through the audience.
Directed by Nicholas Pitt, the production weaves together the episodic stories within a minimalist design. Despite the simplicity of the staging, Pitt ensures the piece feels dynamic and cohesive, shaping a narrative that remains whole even as it moves between distinct segments. With lighting and sound by Geoff Hense and Jon Quin, the creative team combine their talents to deliver a production that is insightful, resonant and theatrically bold.
Cast on the Night:
Julian Spooner