by Dario Fo & Franca Rame; adapted by Tom Basden

Welcome to the crazy world of Accidental Death of an Anarchist, where those in charge have completely lost the plot!

When a certified ‘Maniac’ (whose hobby is impersonating authority figures) arrives at a police station, it prompts an unscheduled investigation. The subject is the mysterious death of a man who left the building during an interrogation… via a top-floor window.

What follows is a whirlwind of re-enactments, cartoonish characters, and increasingly outrageous excuses, as the Maniac runs rings around the police officers and unravels their web of contradictions and cover-ups.

Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo’s 1970 comedy is a hilariously fast-paced farce, that skewers institutional corruption and performative justice. In this razor-sharp new adaptation by Tom Basden, the chaos is relocated to contemporary Britain—where, somehow, the madness feels more relevant than ever.

Contains strong language

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.