Holy Fool
BY FABIO MOTTA
9-19 SEPTEMBER | EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
BY FABIO MOTTA
A spiritual physical-comedy about a Fool who ended up becoming a Saint.
In 2026, chaos reigns! Battles boom, pockets deepen, and Mother Nature feels forgotten.
What if we already KNOW the secret to attaining world harmony but somehow have forgotten?
Inspired by the story of Saint Francis of Assisi, Holy Fool leaps between the divine and the ridiculous, exploring how foolishness can conjure the greatest of all miracles...
Blending physical comedy, spiritual longing, and joyful absurdity, this show follows one naïve seeker determined to live with purpose, love boldly, and question everything — even holiness itself.
A playful pilgrimage through fear, belonging, and the urge to matter in a fractured world. A sacred slapstick journey toward meaning, compassion, and the courage to be unapologetically human.
This project was creatively supported by Emma Gough, David Bridel, Giovanni Fusetti (devising consultant), Zack Fine, James Vinson, Melbourne Actors Guild, La Mama Theatre (Exploration season in 2024), Jaime Dorner, Elizabeth Davie, Paul Bourke, Zya Kane, Anna Thomson and Tim Sneddon.
VENUE
EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
Rear Laneway, 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
DURATION
90 minutes
WARNINGS
Violence, nudity, sexual references and language.
ACCESSIBILITY
Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.
"A brilliantly crafted performance wrapped with comic wit...the laughter rolled continuously"
"The audience was in hysterics"
- The Weekend Notes (Spot)
"Fabio is a master of comic timing"
- Melbourne Observer (Spot)
DATES + TIMES
Wednesday 9 September - 7:30pm (Preview)
Thursday 10 September - 7:30pm (Opening)
Friday 11 September - 7:30pm
Saturday 12 September - 7:30pm
Tuesday 15 September - 7:30pm
Wednesday 16 September - 7:30pm
Thursday 17 September - 7:30pm
Friday 18 September - 7:30pm
Saturday 19 September - 7:30pm
Theatre Works has a lockout policy for latecomers. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss out.
Refunds will not be issued to latecomers.
TICKETS
FULL PRICE
CONCESSION*
PREVIEW
$38.00
$30.00
$30.00
*Seniors, Student, MEAA, Health Care and Low Income card holders
Shows in the WITH THEATRE WORKS stream align strongly our values and missions - these works we co-produce and co-present with independent artists and/or companies. Projects within this stream receive significant producing, marketing, PR and production support in addition to free use of the venue and a generous box office split.
CREDITS
CREATED AND PERFORMED BY
Fabio Motta
SOUND DESIGNER
Jack Burmeister
MEET THE ARTIST
FABIO MOTTA
Fabio Motta is an multi award-winning performer, theatre maker, director and teaching artist who has performed and devised theatre in Australia, Italy, and the United States. Working extensively as an actor in Australia and abroad with companies like the Australian Shakespeare Company, Polka theatre, Born in a Taxi, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and Theatre86. He also has multiple TV and film credits to his name including Ronny Chang International student, Utopia season 4, Carla Cametti PD, Warnie, Slant and Little Tornados. His critically acclaimed solo-show SPOT had a sold-out season in 2021 at Theatre Works and raving reviews in his return season in 2022. He received a Green Room Award for ‘Best Performer’ for his solo show SPOT in 2022. Most recently he directed 'CVNT’ (a Bouffon solo show performed by Sophie Power) which won ‘best comedy’ at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024, and ‘Sunday Roast’ by Thomas Sainsbury which also won ‘Best show at Adelaide Fringe’ in 2023.
