Written by Dario Fo & Franca Rame in a new adaptation by Tom Basden 

Directed by Barney Hart Dyke & Owen T James

Audition dates

Sunday 24 November, 6.30pm

Monday 25 November, 6.30pm

Recalls: Thursday 28 November, 7pm

Production dates
25-29 March 2025. 7.45pm

Matinee, 29 March, 3pm

An irrepressible fraudster known only as the Maniac is 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 recreation of the incident, exposing the absurd corruption and terrifying idiocy at the heart of the system.

This classic farce by Dario Fo and Franca Rame has been given an up to the minute reincarnation from award-winning writer Tom Basden. Eviscerating everyone from the Metropolitan Police to the metropolitan elite, this is a show that will leave audiences breathless! 

Press quotes:
‘Wickedly funny… nothing less than brilliant… the audience is constantly in stitches… much cheaper than a therapy session and vastly more entertaining’
Time Out

‘Pretty special… Basden’s script is packed with contemporary references, but among the comic zingers are weightier concerns about undercover police work and corruption…. It’s brilliantly executed… unforgettable’
The Stage

‘Uproarious… a bomb-blast comedy… an institutionally funny play’
Evening Standard

AUDITIONS

To register your interest please email the directors, Barney Hart Dyke & Owen T James at ptc.anarchist@gmail.com 

CAST BREAKDOWN (with playing ages)

An extremely fast –paced political farce, requiring a strong, highly energetic cast who understand comedy and can combine physicality with the speedy delivery of complex language. 

Playing ages are not necessarily accurate, more a guide to the relationships between the characters

The Maniac: (Male) an unnamed, compulsive, performer, the only character who can see the audience. 
Playing age – late 20s to early 40s. 

Detective Daisy: (Male), a plain-clothes detective. 
Playing age 30s – 40s. 

Superintendent Curry: (Male), the station chief. 
Playing age – mid 50s.

Fi Phelan: (Female), a journalist.
Playing age 20s to 40s. 

Inspector Burton: (Male), from the third floor.
Playing age – 40’s to 50s. 

PC Joseph: (Male), the superintendent’s aide.
Playing age 20’s – 30s 

PC Jackson: (Female), from the third floor.
Playing age 20s – 30s.

Phelan and Jackson are only in one half each, so are normally played by one actor, but can be split.

PLEASE NOTE
We are committed to improving diversity in our casting, and unless stated for artistic reasons, we aim to actively adopt an inclusive casting policy.

This is an amateur production. You do not need to be a member of Putney Theatre Company to audition, but actors and crew will need to become a member of Putney Theatre Company to take part in the show for £30 a year. A  £30 show fee will also need to be paid by all actors in the production. We encourage you to become a member of PTC anyway, even if not cast. 

Our company is run by volunteers and we expect all actors cast in a play to volunteer for Front of House duties at least once a year. Our shows could not go up without our Front of House volunteers.