A Level Drama Set Text Workshop (AQA & Edexcel)
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
by Dario Fo
Unlock Dario Fo's theatrical style through practical exploration
Help students develop a deeper understanding of the characters, context and style of Accidental Death of an Anarchist through practical character and scene work. Students leave with clear ideas about how to make theatrical choices to create meaning, support audience engagement and communicate Fo's political and social critique.
Led by a specialist in farce and Commedia dell'Arte who has been delivering this highly popular workshop in schools for over a decade, with proven success in raising exam grades through performance-based workshops that make the play leap from the page.
This workshop helps students:
✓ Make meaningful connections between text and performance
✓ Understand the performance conventions that shape the play and the characters
✓ Analyse the influence of socio-political, cultural and historical context on Fo's work, including the influence of commedia dell’arte and his application of satirical farce
✓ Apply practical experience to help analyse how meaning and comedy are created and communicated in performance
✓ Evaluate how performance choices influence audience response
✓ Strengthen written examination responses with clear ideas to create comedy and meaning, using appropriate dramatic terminology and detailed performance examples
Duration:
Half / Full day
Suitable for Year 12 and Year 13 Drama students. Available in-school or online.
Online workshops can be delivered as 1 hour / 2 hours / 5 x 1 hour workshop series, tailored to your timetable. Joint school workshops are a popular, affordable option.
See prices and booking for guide costs.
“Cheryl is incredibly knowledgeable and skilful. Her session on Accidental Death of an Anarchist and Commedia was fantastic and I would highly recommend the company, for both staff and students.”
Ideal For
AQA A Level Drama and Theatre students
Edexcel A Level Drama and Theatre students
Year 12 introductory study
Year 13 revision and examination preparation
Drama study days and enrichment programmes
Why Teachers Book This Workshop
Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a dense and complex theatrical play that can be challenging for students to fully appreciate through text-based study alone.
Many of the play's most important features including its physical comedy, direct audience address, farcical stock-character types and political satire are best understood in performance.
This workshop brings those elements to life through practical exploration, helping students connect their experience in the room with the analytical skills required for A Level study. The result is a stronger understanding of both the text and the theatrical style that drives it.
Why study Fo practically?
Students often understand the plot of Accidental Death of an Anarchist but struggle to fully understand and be able to analyse the performance style that creates its comic and political impact. This workshop bridges that gap by turning theatrical theory into lived experience.
What Students Will Explore
How the social, cultural, historical and political context of the play influences the characters and performance choices
The influence of Commedia dell'Arte on Dario Fo and where aspects of this genre can inform understanding of the play
Characterisation, comic archetypes for farce
Performing farcical character transformations, using levels of exaggeration.
Direct audience address and audience relationship
Physical comedy and comic timing applying these to the text in practice
How comedy can be created through comic lazzi (physical gags).
How performance choices communicate meaning
Activities are adapted to the needs and experience of each group. Can be taught to yr 12 and 13 combined.
“This is essential for A level students studying Accidental Death of An Anarchist… Cheryl’s knowledge is impeccable. I cannot thank her enough for the understanding she has given my students!”
Teacher Feedback
“Cheryl did an online class with my students and it was brilliant! … It helped them to understand what they need to know about the key Commedia characters and the context of the play. She even got them on their feet in their bedrooms! They came away with great notes to help them with their study of the text and they were excited to continue working with the play.”
“Cheryl’s workshop was finely tuned to ensure no time was wasted within the intensive three hours. I highly recommend Cheryl for your students - it was invaluable and I look forward to inviting her back next year”
Workshop Leader
These workshops are led by Cheryl Stapleton, a qualified Drama teacher, performer and theatre practitioner with over 20 years’ teaching experience and more than 13 years delivering specialist A Level workshops in schools across the UK and internationally.
She has worked with over 500 schools worldwide and delivered training for organisations including RADA, Fourth Monkey, UCL, University of Birmingham and Circomedia, and is an ISTA Global Artist specialising in Commedia dell’Arte, physical theatre and performance training.
With over 30 years’ experience in theatre practice and education, Cheryl helps students experience performance traditions in action, bridging the gap between practical exploration and the analytical demands of A Level Drama specifications.