Accidental Death of an Anarchist

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Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a farce by Italian playwright Dario Fo (1926-2016) [1]

The original text

Written in 1970 (original title in Italian Morte accidentale di un anarchico), the play centres on the fall from a window of a prisoner in custody. The play is based on the 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing and on the death of Giuseppe Pinelli while being interrogated by the police.

It premiered in 1970 and has been performed across the world in more than forty countries.

Translations and adaptations

Ed Emery was the translator for an authorised English-language version of the play.

In 1979, Gavin Richards developed an adaptation (based on a translation by Gillian Hanna)that was staged at London's Wyndham's Theatre

Performance history in South Africa

1980-1981: Presented by The Market Theatre Company, at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg. Directed by Malcolm Purkey with Charles Comyn, Richard Cox, Jeremy Crutchley, David Eppel, Sharon Lynne, Robin Smith.

1983: Presented by The People's Space in association with Robin Sanders in March 1983, directed by Sanders starring Dermod Judge (Inspector Bertozzo), Chris van Niekerk (Inspector Pissani), Richard Farmer (Two Constables), Ian Roberts (Superintendent), Neil McCarthy (A Maniac), Lynne Maree (Maria Feletti). Set design Bee Berman and Anton Johnson, costumes Birrie le Roux, lighting Leon Benzakein.

2002: Directed by Christopher Weare at the Arena Theatre, Hiddingh Campus, UCT in 2002, with Bernadine Gardiner, Eve Szapiro, Coba-Maryn Wilsenach, Deirdre le Patourel, John Gamble and Nancy Rush.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidental_Death_of_an_Anarchist

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morte_accidentale_di_un_anarchico

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Fo

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Accidental Death of an Anarchist theatre programme, 1983.

Die Burger, 21 May 2002.

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