Read more
An irrepressible fraudster known only as the Maniac is brought into Police Headquarters just as the officers are preparing for a judicial review of the recent 'accidental' death of a suspect in custody.
Outwitting his captors, the Maniac dupes them into performing a farcical recreation of the incident, exposing the absurd corruption and terrifying idiocy at the heart of the system.
Dario Fo and Franca Rame's riotous satire,
Accidental Death of an Anarchist, has been widely performed around the world since its premiere in 1970. Tom Basden's hilarious, bang-up-to-date adaptation was first performed at Sheffield Theatres in September 2022.
About the author
Dario Fo (1926-2016) was an Italian playwright, actor, theatre director, stage designer, songwriter, political campaigner for the Italian left wing and the recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature. His plays include
Mistero Buffo,
Accidental Death of an Anarchist (co-written with his wife, Franca Rame) and
Can't Pay? Won't Pay!Franca Rame (1929-2013) was an Italian theatre actress, playwright and political activist. She was married to Nobel laureate playwright Dario Fo.
Tom Basden's plays include: an adaptation of Dario Fo's
Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, 2022);
The Crocodile, an adaptation of a short story by Dostoyevksy (Manchester International Festival, 2015);
Holes (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2013; Arcola Theatre, London, 2014);
There is a War (as part of the Double Feature season in the Paintframe at the National Theatre);
Joseph K, an adaptation of Kafka's
The Trial (Gate Theatre, London) and
Party (Fringe First Winner; Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Sydney International Festival/Arts Theatre, London). He has written for some of Britain's best TV comedies, including
Peep Show,
Fresh Meat,
The Wrong Mans and
Plebs, which won Best New Comedy at the British Comedy Awards 2013 and Best Scripted Comedy at the RTS Awards 2014. He is also a member of sketch group
Cowards, who wrote and performed their own TV series on BBC4. For Radio 4 he has made two series of
Cowards and three series of his sitcom
Party, based on his 2009 play. He has been nominated for a BAFTA three times, and has won a Fringe First and an Edinburgh Comedy Award.
Summary
Dario Fo and Franca Rame's riotous satire, in a hilarious, bang-up-to-date adaptation by BAFTA-nominated comedy writer Tom Basden.
