SLT Audition
Auditions: Accidental Death of an Anarchist
By Dario Fo and Franca Rame, adapted by Tom Basden
Audition one
Date: 22 Jun 2025
Time: 10:00 - 12:30
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
Audition two
Date: 23 Jun 2025
Time: 20:00 - 22:00
Location: SLT - SE27 9NS
THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE RESPONSE TO THESE AUDITIONS. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BY 12:00 NOON ON THURSDAY 19 JUNE TO GUARANTEE AN AUDITION PLACE
During his interrogation by the police, an anarchist mysteriously falls to his death from a fourth-storey window. The burning question is: did he jump or was he thrown?
As the police attempt to avoid yet another scandal, a mysterious imposter is arrested and brought in for questioning. Seizing the chance to put on a show, The Maniac impersonates an investigating magistrate and leads the officers in an ever-more ridiculous reconstruction of their official account, hilariously exposing the cover-ups, corruption and profound idiocy at the heart of the police.
Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a mixture of biting political satire and clownish comedy. Eviscerating everyone from the Metropolitan Police to the metropolitan elite, Tom Basden’s bang-up-to-the-minute version of the darkly comic classic by Dario Fo and Franca Rame lays bare the murky depths to which a corrupt police force (and establishment) will sink to conceal their own immoral activities. There is a whole load of business with a window, a bomb and a maniac, but who are the real baddies?
Director: Mark Ireson
Performances: 30 Sep - 4 Oct 2025
First Rehearsal: 13 Jul 2025
Characters:
THE MANIAC: M or F, 35+: the central pivotal role. An extremely demanding part requiring the charisma and stamina to command the stage throughout, with physical comedy, improvisation and clowning skills. The part is traditionally played by a male performer, but is not explicitly gendered, so I will be considering all who have the necessary abilities.
SUPERINTENDENT CURRY: M, 50+: a time-served senior police officer. Full of bluster, but ineffectual and self serving underneath it all.
DETECTIVE DAN DAISY: M, 30s: on the rise, notorious as "the window straddler" for his brutal actions towards suspects. As with all bullies, inherently cowardly.
INSPECTOR BURTON: M, 40s: bluff, brutish, long-serving police officer.
FI PHELAN: F, 20s to 30s: a journalist. Despite the privileged background, she is actually on top of the details, and runs rings round the cops.
PC JOSEPH: M or F, 20s or 30s: keen, but not the sharpest knife in the block.
PC JACKSON: M or F, 20s or 30s.
NB - The two PCs may be doubled, with some slight change in appearance to distinguish them to the audience
Please fill in this form to book an audition slot.
Audition pieces will be available shortly.
Callbacks, for those selected, will be on Sunday 29 June at 13:00.
