Accidental Death of an Anarchist (West End Edition) (NHB Modern Plays)
A satirical play exposing police corruption and power through black comedy.
Work Information
A satirical play exposing police corruption and power through black comedy.
A satirical play exposing police corruption and power through black comedy.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Nick Hern Books
- Published
- 2024-03-26
- Pages
- 96 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 12.45 x 1.02 x 19.3 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781839042546
- ISBN-10
- 1839042540
- Price
- 3970 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Drama/British & Irish
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 has been widely performed around the world since its premiere in 1970. Tom Basden's acclaimed adaptation was first performed at Sheffield Theatres in 2022, directed by Daniel Raggett, and starring Daniel Rigby as the Maniac. The production transferred to the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in 2023, before moving to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London's West End.
Tom Basden' s plays include: an adaptation of Dario Fo and Franca Rame's Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, 2022; Lyric Hammersmith and West End, 2023); 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.
Reviews
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This was an absolutely delightful read. The adaptation to the modern issues surrounding policing was skillfully done and truly hilarious. The wittiness of the Maniac's lines was refreshing, with the rapid fire repartee with the other characters often reminding me of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
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Amazing reading