SUSU Theatre Group 
The Annex, University of Southampton, Southampton 
Darren Funnell
30 October 2024
Even though this is a contemporary ‘adaptation’ of Accidental Death Of An Anarchist by Tom Basden, it retains Dario Fo’s intent in being a sharp and funny take on what happens when those in power bend the truth for their own gain. It exposes and satirizes the corruption and abuse of power within police and the judiciary, particularly in relation to political oppression. The story follows a chaotic, quick-thinking character called The Maniac as ‘he’ unravels a web of lies surrounding the mysterious “accidental” death of a man in police custody. Through The Maniac’s antics, it is shown how absurd and dangerous things get when the authorities start rewriting reality to avoid accountability.
In the original seventies’ version, the real-life Fo covers the mysterious death of an Italian anarchist, Giuseppe Pinelli, who allegedly “fell” from a police station window while in custody. As this does not resonate in quite the same way Tom Basden has, with snappy, often hilarious present-day relevance, asked the audience to question truth and justice through a very modern lens. It is a very strong adaptation that loses nothing – even gains – from its free-wheeling approach to the original. In fairness, occasionally, it gets a little bogged down and flabby in its form and structure as the smart dialogue takes precedence, but overall, as a piece of adaptive writing, it is a great thing.
Megan Lawrie, Alex Tsherit, and Zayn Khan are “actor’s directors” as they appear to have focused on helping the actors fully explore the exaggerated, chaotic quirks and comedic timing in delivering their roles. This drives the script forward, so that’s job done.
Working within the limitations of the Annex ‘Theatre’ (cum Lecture Hall), and no doubt budget constraints, they do a decent job replicating the required police station. The feel of the overall staging and costumes is surprisingly faithful to the original play. I was reminded a bit of the TV show Tiswas, if anyone can remember that. I wonder given the very good creative theatre programme, and its focus on ‘correctional facility’, whether this was one of those opportunities to bring the staging bang up to date as well, though that may also have made it harder for the absurdist elements to bleed through.
I do note the collaborative spirit of this production, all energized and ideas. I count 8 producers (at least). Overall, and this is for all the production team, it was evident that a lot of thought and professionalism went into bringing this piece alive and making it vigorous, generationally targeted and on-message.
However, it is the cast that bring everything to life. What a standout, barmy, engrossing, pointed performance from Kat Fevyer (The Maniac). Essential glue and – wow – does she hit the ground running and never stop ‘nailing’ the character Superb absurd! Necessarily if one character is a ‘voice of the writer’ than the other characters become symbolic funny caricatures of the target the writer has in sight. So, we have excitable, physical and laddish Inspector Burton (Vivek Kanani) and Dan Daisy (Noah Harper) who provide fun with slapstick violence; a slippery-when-wet Superintendent (Morgan Allen); a believably fluffy reporter (Charlie Pearce) whose reporting style leans more toward the fanciful than fact and two rather dumb-for-laughs Constables (James Stark and Lily Akers) who are much good value. All of them together give zip, spin and time the laughs so whilst supporting never supported.
It’s always good to see Theatre groups pushing boundaries, working in different ways, adapting, creating, and focusing on the message they want to ask the audience to question. This version of Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, playing to until Saturday 2 November at The Annex, Southampton University, does just that. Having a voice, especially, today, needs encouragement and support. Overall ‘Theatre Group Correctional Facility’ stake their claim to having one and doing Dario Fo proud.
