ROME, Lazio, Italy – The centennial celebrations for the birth of Nobel laureate Dario Fo officially began in Rome yesterday, March 24, with the unveiling of a commemorative stamp and a presentation by the National Committee at the Ministry of Culture. The event, attended by Undersecretary Gianmarco Mazzi, has been marked by ongoing controversy regarding Milan’s perceived lack of support for the commemorations.
Milan’s Alleged Disinterest Sparks Family Criticism
Jacopo Fo, the son of the Nobel laureate, expressed his disappointment to ANSA, stating, “They don’t want us in Milan; the Sala Municipality has rejected all our proposals over the years. They are interested in collaborating, but they will only place a plaque under the house where my parents lived in their final years.” This follows comments from his niece, Mattea Fo, who emphasized that “a plaque is not enough,” leading to a heated exchange with Milan’s culture councilor, Tommaso Sacco, who had announced “many other initiatives.”
A Grand Tribute in the Capital
In Rome, a tribute to the Nobel laureate, one of the most significant figures in 20th-century theater, literature, and civil engagement, will culminate in a special evening event at the Sistina Theatre on May 24. This choral performance will open with Carlo Petrini, joined by Dario Fo’s granddaughters, Mattea and Jaele Fo. Paola Cortellesi will share her first encounter with Dario Fo during the production of the play ‘Callas,’ which will be re-broadcast on March 30 on La7. Moni Ovadia, Marco Travaglio, and Gad Lerner will each recount their friendships and relationships with Fo and Rame.
Chiara Francini, who has been performing ‘Coppia Aperta Quasi Spalancata’ for several years with Alessandro Federico, will pay homage to this globally translated and performed play. Pino Strabioli will present an account of his last interview with Dario Fo on the Sistina stage. Ambra Angiolini will share the moment she was with Fo when he received the news of his Nobel Prize.
Global Reach and Impressive Preparations
Jacopo Fo explained, “We have been preparing for this day for a year and a half. The credit goes to my daughter Mattea and Stefano Bertea, who have worked incredibly, and to Carlo Petrini, who had the idea of proposing 100 commemorative events in 100 countries and 120 in Italy, and everything is going very well. We have published a world map with all the locations where performances are taking place; it’s impressive.”
The objective is to celebrate the figure and work of the Italian author, alongside Franca Rame, who is widely performed abroad, thanks to an extensive network of contacts.
Undersecretary Mazzi’s Regret and Mattea Fo’s Emotion
Undersecretary Mazzi described Dario Fo as having “a pyrotechnic genius. He was a man and an artist full of enthusiasm, full of curiosity for art, and the fact that he was a Nobel laureate places him among the greats of cultural history.” Mazzi also expressed a “regret” that he did not allow Dario Fo to meet Pino Daniele in 2014, when Fo had gone to rest after arriving in Naples. “He was very angry with me,” Mazzi admitted.
Mattea Fo, president of the Fo Rame Foundation, shared her emotion: “Entering this room today with all the monitors dedicated to Dario and seeing the culmination of almost two years of work is truly a beautiful emotion. This centennial will travel the world, even to countries where the political situation is complicated today, in Iran, in Jerusalem. In Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan), a Kurdish theater company announced today the founding of The Dario Fo and Franca Rame Theatre Commune. Tonight at the Sistina Theatre will be a great celebration.”
Commemorative Stamp and Future Events
The commemorative stamp, issued on March 24, 2026, by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit) in collaboration with Poste Italiane, belongs to the thematic series ‘The Excellences of Italian Cultural Heritage.’ It is further enhanced by the iconic photograph taken by his friend Guido Harari, an image that has become the very symbol of the Centennial for the Foundation.
The year 2026 will be filled with events featuring productions of plays such as ‘Morte Accidentale di un Anarchico’ with Lodo Guenzi, ‘Lu Santo Jullare Francesco,’ or ‘Mistero Buffo’ with Matthias Martelli. Key appointments include an international conference with five days of studies organized at various Italian universities to stimulate new research on the work of Dario Fo and Franca Rame. In Umbria, a region chosen by Dario Fo as a creative retreat, the Archive and exhibitions on Dario Fo as a painter are also highlighted.
The celebrations aim to honor the enduring legacy of Dario Fo and Franca Rame, ensuring their contributions to art and culture continue to resonate globally, despite the local disagreements.
