Dario Fo

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Dario Fo born 24 March 1926 is an Italian satirist playwright theatre director actor composer and recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature His dramatic work employs comedic methods of the ancient Italian commedia dellarte a theatrical style popular with the working classes Fos works are characterised by criticisms of organised crime political corruption political murders most of the Catholic Church doctrine and conflict in the Middle East His plays often depend on improvisation commedia dellarte style His plays especially Mistero Buffo have been translated into 30 languages and when performed outside Italy they are often modified to reflect local political and other issues Fo encourages directors and translators to modify his plays as they see fit as he finds this in accordance to the commedia dellarte tradition of onstage improvisation Fo currently owns and operates a theatre company with his wife actress Franca Rame Upon awarding him the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature the committee highlighted Fo as a writer who emulates the jesters of the Middle Ages in scourging authority and upholding the dignity of the downtrodden Description above from the Wikipedia article Dario Fo licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia