Accidental Radical
(in development)

In an interrogation room in 1970s East Berlin, a series of secrets unravels about ordinary people caught in extraordinary historical moments involving spies, escapes and medical mysteries. These are the accidental radicals whose true stories history has overlooked or... covered up.

Accidental Radical is a new multi-lingual spy-thriller theatre work with embedded access exploring medico-political controversies and their impact on our bodies and human rights.

This gritty exposé reflects as much our current times, as it does the Cold War, when artist-turned-radical, Andi Snelling, goes undercover to investigate the danger and bravery of her interview subjects - the accidental radicals who risked their lives in the face of impossible political landscapes - only to find herself and her own life-threatening disease at the centre of controversy.

In this underground world of codes and clues not everyone receives the same story, yet the entire audience is complicit, with dramaturgical devices such as: hidden clues in Braille, walls that speak what they overhear via live captioning, portraits that come alive communicating in Auslan, and headsets for audio description with bonus information for only those tuning in. This challenges the audience to question their own versions of how truth is formed and inequities around access to information and participation in society.

Accidental Radical capitalises on Snelling's signature unconventional blending of performance genres, including: physical theatre, cabaret, verbatim text, improvisation and audience participation, as well as being an immersive work in which the space, the set and all its objects can be interacted with and have an influence on the narrative of the show.

It is a solo show with a supporting ensemble of spies who encapsulate each form of access, creating an out-of-the-box experience whereby the show cannot exist without all the access components.

After six months of rigorous research and interviews, a development showing took place at The Mill, Adelaide in December 2021. Now, Accidental Radical seeks funding for its next phase of development, before eventually premiering.

Development Creative Team:
Written, Directed and Performed by Andi Snelling
Access Mentors - Jamila Main, Martin Sawtell and Tom Middleditch & Jacinta Anderson (A_tistic Theatre)
Artistic Mentor - Emma Beech
Access Ensemble - Gerry Shearim (live Auslan), Caroline Conlon (pre-recorded Auslan), Emma Bedford (audio description), Jamila Main (captioning)

Andi would like to acknowledge the support of The Mill, Goodwood Theatre and Britt Plummer.
This development was generously funded by Arts SA and Adelaide Fringe. Thank you.

Accidental Radical Development Showing at The Mill, Adelaide, December 2021.
(Photography by Jamois)