The Devious Theatre Company are launching their Dario Fo Season with the maniacal murder mystery Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, arguably the Nobel Prize winning dramatist’s most famous play.

Written in 1970, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist was inspired by events that took place in Italy in 1969 when an anarchist, Giuseppe Pinelli fell – or was thrown – from the fourth floor window of a Milan police station. He had been accused of a campaign of bombing, of which he was later found innocent. The resultant scandal uncovered a system rife with corruption and intensified public rage at the government. Intensification of public rage is something that Dario Fo is a master of with his work challenging church, government and the authorities in Italy for over 50 years.

Accidental Death Of An Anarchist takes place as an enquiry into the anarchist’s death is causing the policemen involved to have some difficulties remembering the details of the event. That is, until a nameless deranged madman shows up and proceeds to tie the authorities around his fingers in a master class performance of utter logic. The cast includes Alan Butler, Sean Hackett, Simone Kelly, Ken McGuire, John Morton and David Thompson playing the famed role of the shape shifting Madman. The production is directed by John Morton, who previously co-directed Trainspotting for Devious Theatre.

As is usually the case with adaptations of Dario Fo, this production will look at the events of the play through the prism of modern Ireland and the corruption and scandals inherent in our own political systems. Employing the comedic methods of commedia dell’arte and slapstick as used by Dario Fo, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist is an uproariously funny farce which rallies against political injustice and corruption.

Above is the teaser poster for the production which pays homage to the late, great Saul Bass whose look and style have influenced our show. Over the next couple of weeks, we will continue to roll out further promotional materials and some surprises. Stay tuned to the site for further details.

This will be the first play to be staged in the Set Theatre, John Street and we at The Devious Theatre Company are proud to be the first group to utilise Kilkenny’s finest new venue. They will be returning in March of 2009 with the next part of their season Dario Fo’s Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!

Accidental Death Of An Anarchist will run from Wednesday December 2nd to Sunday December 6th and tickets will soon be made available from the Set Theatre box office in Langtons and Rollercoaster Records in Kieran Street. For all details on the play and the full Dario Fo Season stay tuned this site.