In Conversation with Fabio Motta | Holy Fool

In this week's Backstage Blog, we spoke to Fabio Motta, the creator and performer of Holy Fool, who returns to Theatre Works after a green room award wining 2022 run of Spot.

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...  

Q: Welcome to Theatre Works! Or welcome back to Theatre Works. Can you tell our audience a bit about the other shows you've worked on here?

FABIO: It's great to be back at Theatre Works! I had the pleasure of presenting two seasons of my previous show, SPOT, here, as well as directing Golden Soil and Wealth for Toil with the National Theatre Drama School.

Both those shows were Bouffon shows, a style of satirical grotesque physical theatre, focused on mocking societal injustices (very different direction to where I’m heading with Holy Fool!)

Theatre Works has always been a wonderful home for independent artists - a place to explore bold ideas and take creative risks. I'm incredibly grateful to be returning as part of the 2026 season with this new work.

Q: When you performed 'Spot' here at Theatre Works, you won a Green Room Award for best performer. Any eye on going back-to-back?

FABIO: While I was completely humbled and grateful for the award, it’s not why I make theatre. Really, my only hope for this show, is that audiences connect with it.

It’s difficult to make a show around a religious figure, that means very different things to different people, and nearly everyone may find elements uncomfortable. I’m hoping that despite cultural framing, something about humanity will surface each night. If I can do that, that’s really the only marker of success I need.

Q: You took a residency in Padua, fittingly, while developing this work. What was that like? Did you find it influenced the development of the show?

FABIO: The residency in Padua was a remarkable gift. I had the time and space to develop the piece at Helikos Studio, surrounded by the history, art and culture of the city which is closely associated with not just the Franciscans but of Physical Theatre Pedagogy.

Being able to have Giovanni Fusetti direct the work from his studio was special. He describes himself as an “Artist, Natural Scientist, Pedagogue and multi-disciplinary fool”, but his influence as an internationally renowned teacher, director and dramaturg reverberates from Padua across the world.

It wasn't that I came home with a completely different show, but the residency gave me a deeper confidence in the story I was telling. The development also offered a structure that feels far more rooted in play and form.

This year also happens to mark the 800th anniversary of St. Francis's death, and many performances and events across Italy are celebrating his life and legacy. Being in Padua reminded me that Francis isn't simply a historical figure or an “icon” - he was a real person whose extraordinary compassion and radical simplicity continue to resonate today.

Finally, being in Padua allowed me to perform the work in progress show for an Italian audience, which was an absolute highlight. It was a dream come true. They immediately understood the humour, the humanity and the heart of the piece, and sharing the work in a place where the cultural touchstones of the work still feel so alive was an unforgettable experience.

Q: What will surprise audiences about this work?

FABIO: What seems to have surprised people so far through development, is the way the piece moves between the profane and the profound - moments of very human (even vulgar) comedy sitting alongside moments of genuine mysticism and connection. Audiences in development showings have seemed to embrace the humour through its simplicity and playfulness, and when it’s right, they've communicated they felt touched by sentiments that transcend our diverse beliefs.

Q: What has been the most memorable moment of your process so far?

FABIO: Without question, it's been collaborating with such an incredible team. Developing a solo show can sometimes feel like a lonely and isolating process.

I've been surrounded by artists who have brought extraordinary generosity, insight and passion to the work. Everyone has cared deeply about the story and has challenged and supported me in equal measure, always striving to bring the best version of the piece to life. I'm incredibly grateful to have shared the journey with them.

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Holy Fool plays September 9 - 19 at Explosives Factory.

Click here to get your tickets!