Accidental Death of an Analyst

How many earthquakes have happened in British politics (indeed world politics) since 1970? Fo’s exposé of police corruption originally told the true story of an Italian anarchist who mysteriously fell to his death from the window of a police station. The ‘Maniac’ (the truth-speaking fool) investigates, and in doing so reveals the idiocy of lies spun by officialdom – which seems ever current – this play asks if we are happy with what’s happening in this country now!

The play is based on the 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing and on the death of Giuseppe Pinelli, an Italian anarchist, during a police interrogation.
A sharp and hilarious satire on police corruption, it concerns the case of an anarchist railway worker who, in 1969, ‘fell’ to his death from a police headquarters window.

The Northern Broadsides Theatre Company’s adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a political satire that explores themes of police corruption and the media’s role in shaping public perception. The play, written by Dario Fo and adapted by Deborah McAndrew, was first staged in Italy in 1970 and has since been translated and adapted for a modern audience. The 2008 version set in Yorkshire is particularly notable for its updated references to contemporary issues. The production is praised for its fast-paced energy, humour, and the use of slapstick to expose institutional corruption and cover-ups. The role of the “Maniac” is central to the play’s satire, revealing the idiocy of lies spun by officialdom. The play has been performed at various venues, including the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and the National Theatre in London, showcasing its enduring relevance and popularity