On the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dario Fo, the Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney, in collaboration with Co.As.It. Sydney, presents Lu Santo Jullàre Françesco, in the version directed and performed by Matthias Martelli, widely regarded as the heir to the Nobel Prize-winning playwright. Martelli brings to life a portrait of a contemporary St. Francis—madcap, essential, and brilliantly unconventional. The result is a multi-voiced monologue, a vibrant mosaic of bodies and characters that moves from comedy to poetry, from the grotesque to melancholy, never losing sight of Fo’s sharp irony and infectious laughter.
Lu Santo Jullàre Françesco by Dario Fo and Franca Rame
directed and performed by Matthias Martelli
- Wednesday, 23 September 2026, 7:00 PM
- The Italian Forum Cultural Centre
- Norton St. Leichhardt, Sydney NSW
- In Italian with English surtitles
Free registration on our Eventbrite profile HERE
A production of the Teatro Stabile di Torino – Teatro Nazionale together with Teatro Stabile dell’Umbria
The show is part of the celebrations for Dario Fo’s 100th birthday, promoted by the Fo Rame Foundation.
In 2026 two important anniversaries unite Saint Francis of Assisi and Dario Fo: eight hundred years since the death of the patron saint of Italy, one of the world’s most famous and beloved saints, and one hundred years since the birth and ten years since the death of the Nobel Prize-winning actor and playwright. For this occasion, the histrionic Matthias Martelli, Fo’s artistic heir, directs and stars in Lu Santo Jullàre Françesco, a touching and ironic account of a story that has become a true archetype of our narrative heritage. The choice of Francis, the “Jester of God,” revolves around essential values: poverty, peace, and respect for the world. These principles, the foundation of the “Franciscan revolution,” are the true modernity of the teachings of the Saint of Assisi. Martelli navigates a tale imbued with sweetness, lightheartedness, courage, and also forceful satire, building on the talent and genius of the Nobel Prize winner.
Bio
Matthias Martelli is an actor, playwright, author, and contemporary storyteller in the tradition of the medieval giullare. International recognition came with his acclaimed performance of Mistero Buffo by Dario Fo, directed by Eugenio Allegri. Presented in hundreds of performances across Italy, Europe, and the United States, the production established Martelli as the natural heir to the great artist’s theatrical legacy.
Born in Urbino in 1986, Martelli creates a form of physical, vocal, and narrative theater in which irony, poetry, and satire become powerful tools for storytelling and social critique.
His work combines the medieval tradition of the giullare with a distinctly contemporary vision, weaving together history, politics, art, and myth. On stage, he works at the intersection of word and body, transforming narrative into physical action, rhythm, and presence.
PRODUCTION
- Assistant Director Ornella Matranga
- Set Design: Fabio Carpene
- Costume Design: Giovanna Fiorentini
- Lighting Design: Alberto Ciafardoni
- Sound: Marco Ava
- Original Music: Andrea Chenna
- Language Consulting: Flavia Chiacchella, Roberto Imperato
