Far Left

These aims were to bring Fo and his supporters far left of the Italian Communist Party, for they refused to be bound by the party line, and reserved the right to criticise the party itself. In one of Fo's later plays a well known party leader was scolded and ridiculed by two puppets representing Stalin and Mao Zedong.

Nuova Scena played to peasants, workers and students; performing in factories, stadiums, universities and trades halls.

Grande Pantomima was the first play performed by Nuova Scena. Drawing on traditions of Commedia dell'arte, mime, circus and vaudeville, it presents a potted history of Italy from the fascist state until 1968, plus various episodes exposing the oppression of the working classes by the capitalist system. It features a three metre high puppet representing the fascist state, the voice of Mussolini, the Queen of Italy (and her husband the King), a bishop representing the Catholic Church, a bowler hatted Capitalism, and the flighty Bourgeoisie ("but I'm not a virgin any more - maybe I never was one"). In opposition are the forces of niceness and goodness, the political activists, resistance groups, communists, peasants in revolt, student demonstrators, and the Dragon of the Proletariat.

A special version of Grande Pantomima has been prepared by producer David Groves, half in English, half in Italian; to make it comprehensible to an English speaking audience, and to assistant producer Carol Dee, who doesn't speak Italian either. The cast, mostly students from the Italian Department, have added their own topical allusions amongst which rugby and Springboks feature prominently.

Jessica Wilson