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Students bring Dario Fo’s farce to life in Shepparton

By Pip Turton

Oct 25, 2025

Dario Fo’s one-act farce Non tutti i ladri vengono per nuocere (The Virtuous Burglar) will be performed in Shepparton on Monday, October 27. Photo by Contributed

University of Melbourne Italian Studies students are bringing a touch of Italian theatre to the Goulburn Valley this month, performing Dario Fo’s one-act farce Non tutti i ladri vengono per nuocere (The Virtuous Burglar) in Shepparton.

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The show begins at 5:30pm on Monday, October 27 at 49 Graham St, Shepparton, with free tickets available.

Written in the 1950s, the play captures the rapid social change of post-war Italy with Fo’s trademark humour and wit.

The performance is part of a long-running project led by Italian Studies lecturer Matt Absalom, who encourages students to make Italian language and culture accessible to everyone.

“One of my aims with this project is to reach outside the university and invite people in to see the work that we do,” Dr Absalom said.

“I grew up in Cobram and spent school holidays in Tatura, so I have a real affinity with the area.”

Before the evening performance, the students will visit St Anne’s College in Kialla to share their passion for Italian theatre with local students.

For tickets and updates, visit https://events.humanitix.com/non-tutti-i-ladri-vengono-per-nuocere or @italian6unimelb on Instagram