2021 Assessment resources

A-level Drama and Theatre

Drama through the ages: Accidental Death of an Anarchist

Answers and commentaries

The question numbers in this resource reflect the question numbers from the original
papers and match the question numbers in the corresponding 2021 assessment materials.

Question 11
No example responses available.

Question 12

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Student A

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Commentary
This is a detailed, considered and well-structured response revealing a focused and considered
discussion of the intended audience response to the Constable (Band 4). The student’s ideas are
very creative, and many suggestions are likely to create the intended comedy (Band 4/5) and the
student offers a unified creative overview and reveals understanding of the play’s social context
and political purpose.

Text is used to support the answer and examples are plentiful and appropriate. Numerous
question-specific indicators have been explored. The high level of creativity, associated with Band
5 work, along with the solid attainment of Band 4 descriptors, suggests a mark at the top of Band
4.
20 marks

Question 11

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Student A

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Commentary
This is an assured response to the question (Band 5). The student reveals very sound
understanding of comic method and although some ideas are repeated (as they frequently are in
comedy) these are, in the main, highly creative (Band 5). The processes and techniques of
creating comic theatre are clearly understood and the answer is focused on the cartoon style and
there is an assurance (Band 5) about the ideas suggested for turning the Constable into the butt of
many of the jokes.

The overview of the play is quite unified (Band 4) and plentiful strategies for performance are
offered and a number of the question specific indicators have been explored. Reference to the
context of the play is considered (Band 5).

The response demonstrates more Band 5 qualities than Band 4 and the answer is awarded a mark
on the cusp of the two bands on the entry mark for the top Band.
21 marks

Question 12
No example responses available.

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Question 11

Student A
In Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist, the performance is set in Milan, Italy, 1970s. Based
on true events, Fo describes the corruption in the police force and the government through
characteristic traits. He also uses make-up and costume to help show comedy, corruption and the
tension during the time period.

To begin with, in act one scene one, we meet inspector Bertozzo, the constable and the maniac.
In Fo’s original performance he depicted inspector Bertozzo as being ‘the butt of jokes’ and a bit
slow; he also describes him as being an interpretation of the Italian police force in the Mussolini
era.

In my version of the performance I would show Bertozzo as being a young Italian man with slicked
blonde hair or clean shaven and an impressive body; this shows more stereotypes as most people
think Italian men look greasy. This also shows that Bertozzo would rather spend time taking care of
his appearance and physique than doing police work. Therefore, creating an image to show that as
inspector doesn't have to do his job, showing corruption.

Next, I would show the maniac as identical to the original as possible. Fo uses commedia del l'arte
to show the maniac being different to the rest of his cast. Commedia is old Italian theatre in which
the Harlequin or the trickster would appear before the King and perform comedy much like a
Jester.
Fo also uses a Harlequin costume to show comedy; he wears a colourful patched outfit and mask
with a long hooked nose and a hat, often worn by jesters. This creates mystery as the audience
never knows what the maniac really looks like and also creates comedy as the other characters
are dressed
with modern 20th century clothes whereas the maniac wears medieval clothing.
Comment (1):
However, for the constable, I would show him to wear a black suit and once again keep just Fo’s
original description.

In another part of the performance I would use act 2 scene one, here we meet Feletti, Pissani and
the Superintendent as well as being reintroduced to Bertozzo, the Maniac and the Constable. First
inspector Pissani is based on a real life Italian police inspector nicknamed the ‘window straddler’
after an anarchist who had jumped from the police headquarters window. He depicts Pissani as
being smart with a hint of evil; for this I would show Pissani as wearing a turtleneck sweater with a
suit jacket; this is how he was originally portrayed in Fo’s version the evil aspect comes from
stereotypes such as blacked- out sunglasses; constantly wiping his hands for evidence and
possibly a scar from where people fought back.

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For me with the Superintendent, I would want again to recreate how Fo depicted him; the
Superintendent wears traditional Italian army uniform. Possibly from World War 2; it shows quite a
nationalistic and fascist pride about him. Fo intended him to be like this as the Italian police force
were given training for fighting and interrogation tactics by the army.

For the journalist, Feletti, I would show her to not stand out; making her outfit bland and not give
her a costume. Instead, she would wear normal clothes while being surrounded by full costumes.

When we are reintroduced with both Bertozzo and the Constable, they have minor changes. For
example, Bertozzo’s suit is scruffed- up from fighting and he is wearing an eye patch whereas the
constable has red paint representing blood from where he was hit on the nose.

The maniac is now wearing a suit and an eye patch and is still wearing a mask; this shows that
only Bertozzo recognises him and questions him, however the others don't see what he means.

Commentary
The student offers a generalised response with few precise details and limited coherence (Band 2).
Little knowledge and understanding of design processes in the theatre is evident (Band 1) and
there is a restricted sense of period, and limited valid reference to context (Band 2).

Costume ideas lack detail and there is no sense of costume design fundamentals. Design
strategies lack creativity (Band 1) and have very limited potential to create meaning or effects.
Text has not been offered to support the answer and negligible comedy has been created (Band
1). Few question-specific indicators are included. This is a brief and skimpy response with
elements of Bands 1 and 2. The range of costumes considered just about allows the answer to
attract a mark at the bottom of Band 2.
6 marks

Question 12
No example responses available.

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