What is the Italian spirit? Commedia dell'arte, also know as 'Italian comedy' or 'improvised comedy' has at its heart a possibility...'L'arte di Arrangiarsi' (The art of getting by). This ability of being resourceful, spontaneous, making the most of every situation, regardless of how possible or impossible it may seem - is keenly present in the commedia characters. Perhaps even more importantly, it may be the key to this tradition's popularity for over three centuries and beyond. Commedia dell'arte has created a lasting influence on Shakespeare, Moliere', opera, vaudeville, sit- coms and has given a propitious birth to modern theatre. Fabio Motta will lead us on a journey from some of the stock characters of commedia, it's history and how 'l'arte di arrangiarsi' and it's Italian spirit continues to inspire not only himself but Italian food, cinema, fashion as well as the rest of world.
Fabio Motta is an actor and clown who had the fortune of performing and devising theatre in Australia, Italy and the United states. Most recently he played Judge Brack in Hotel Now's the adaptation of Hedda Gabler: 'Her father's daughter' at the Stonnigton City Council. He also played Benedick in Melbourne's Shakespeare's Company production of Much Ado. Other notable credits include; Three Sisters (New York Theatre Workshop), My Uncle Chekhov directed by Aleksey Burago (West End Theatre) and Pal Joey directed by Robert McQueen (HB Studios). He has toured Australia with Polka Theatre’s ‘Charlie and Lola Best Bestest play’ and Extremely New Play performing at the Sydney Opera House. He was a conservatory company member at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (Garrison, New York) performing in repertory in; Measure for Measure, As you like it and the devised clown show So Please You. His TV and film work includes Carla Cametti PD, Canal Road, Ronny Chang International student, Utopia season 4 and Hating Alison Ashley. He trained at the Accademia Teatrale Veneta (Italy) in Commedia Dell'Arte, at HB studio in New York, 16th Street Actors Studio and with clown master Philippe Gaulier. Fabio also teaches clowning, commedia dell'arte, theatre as play (Le Jeu) and is in the process of certifying himself in Fitzmaurice Voicework.
He is grateful for the opportunity to be sharing his very first one-person show 'The Art of Getting By' with you all!
