Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo, trans by Tim Supple & Alan Cumming, directed by Philip Graham & Rob Crouch, designed by Full Cry Theatre. Brockley Jack Theatre, Nov 1999, Spring tour 2000.

Dario Fo's riotous political comedy proved an ideal vehicle for Brute Farce's developing style. Returning, initially, to the Brockley Jack they updated Tim Supple and Alan Cummings' translation, spicing it up with contemporary references, random musical interludes and cheap gags.

The play, concerns a madman, wandering around the police station in Milan, uncovers the ridiculous lies told by the police about the events when, one winter's night, an anarchist, in their custody, fell to his death from a fifth floor window.

Much of the hilarity stems, ironically, from the original transcripts as the policemen, in a desperate attempt not to further incriminate themselves, come up with more and more outlandish descriptions of the events of that night.

The first production (pictured) ran at The Brockley Jack Theatre from 2-27 Nov. The cast was Arthur Caulfield (the Madman), Rob Crouch (Inspector Pisani), Josephine Gradwell (Superintendent), Tristan Maguire (Inspector Bertozzo), Lottie Roach (Feletti), and Jason Squibb (Constable).

The touring production, the following Spring, featured Darren Charlton (Constable) Rob Crouch, John McCraw (the Madman) James Harwood (Bertozzo), Vanessa Morley (Feletti), and Katy Slater (Superintendent).

It played at Brewhouse Art Centre, Burton-upon-Trent (24 Mar), Dixon Studio, Westcliff Palace Theatre (27-28 Mar, 3, 7-8 Apr), Blackpool & The Fylde College Theatre (30 Mar), Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham (5 Apr), All Saints Arts Centre, Lewes (6 Apr), Old Town Hall Arts Centre, Hemel Hempstead (12 Apr), Central Studio, Basingstoke (13 Apr), Miskin Theatre, Dartford (19-20 Apr), The Theatre, Chipping Norton (4 May).