IT IS difficult to know where to start with Accidental Death of an Anarchist.
Director Tori Wakeman in her programme notes describes it as ‘bonkers…..absolutely bonkers’ and, having seen it, it is hard to disagree with that description.
I will add in ‘roller-coaster’ as you never know where it is going to take you next – zaniness to new levels.
The play – staged by the Nonentities at Kidderminster’s Rose Theatre – is a full-blooded adaptation from playwright Tom Basden of Dario Fo’s 1970s riotous satire.
The story centres on the impressive fraudster – ‘The Maniac’ – brought into police headquarters, just as the officers are preparing for a judicial review of the recent ‘accidental’ death of a suspect in custody.
Outwitting his captors, the Maniac dupes them into performing a farcical re-creation of the incident, exposing the absurd corruption and terrifying idiocy at the heart of the system.
As well as the main storyline, this always farcical, sometimes ridiculous, production highlights serious issues, including police corruption and malpractice, referencing Stephen Lawrence, Sarah Everard and other cases, and ‘endless enquiries’ into these injustices.
Observational comedy and cleverly-crafted one-liners also examines other outrageous aspects of our lives, such as celebrities and other institutions.
The dialogue is punchy throughout and, sometimes, it is so fast-paced you struggle to keep up with jokes landing one after the other.
The set was simple – two identical police station offices (one on the floor above).
It was all that was needed to enable this talented cast to do their stuff and bring the scenarios and story to life.
Donna Abram as PC Jackson was one of the first characters on the stage and put in a solid performance. Her first line, when it came, was greeted with gasps and laughs in equal measure.
Bhupinder Brown was great as posh and self-entitled journalist Fi Phelan. She enters the fray in the second act with an agenda – to expose police malpractice while all around her are doing everything and anything they can to disprove what she is saying.
Chris Kay had his fair share of the comedy as Constable Joseph – a PC in a very un-PC world. He had some great lines but it was his entrances and exits – always seeming to turn up at the wrong moments – that helped provide the humour.
Robert Graham portrayed northern inept Inspector Burton well, brashly blundering across the stage and not really helping the situation or his force.
Jonathan Flowers as Detective Dan Daisy took to his role well, as the stereotypical police officer doing all he can to keep his life and job simple and – when not that simple – just to keep his job. He was a great foil for Richard Taylor as Superintendent Curry.
Taylor was the loudly spoken, outspoken, shouty boss – think Inspector Grim from the Thin Blue Line. You could tell he relished the role.
But the star of the show was Stuart Wishart who made ‘The Maniac’ his own. Throughout this two-hour show, in probably one of the craziest roles you will see on any stage ever, he conned the boys (and girl) in blue by his character playing a multitude of characters from psychiatrists to a high court judge and a forensic scientist. Wishart was Tim Vine-esque in his portrayal – his facial expressions and punchy line delivery was faultless. And, as you left the theatre, you wondered how it was humanly possible to keep up that level of energy and remember that many lines.
Well done to Tori and assistant director Laura Pearson and everyone involved in this must-see production which is full of laugh out loud moments and hilarity.
If you love Line of Duty, the Thin Blue Line and anarchic comedy like The Young Ones – this show is all that and more rolled into one.
Accidental Death of an Anarchist is at the Rose Theatre until Saturday, May 23, with performances each night at 7.30pm.
Call the Box Office on 01562 743745 or visit www.rosetheatre.crosetheatre.co.uk for further details and tickets.
8th Jun, 2026
