STUDENTS won acclaim when they took their own version of anarchy in the UK to the Edinburgh Festival.

The magnificent seven, who study theatre at Bury College, performed Dario Fo's black comedy Accidental Death of an Anarchist under the name of I Buffoni.

The cast were Nicholas Kershaw and Greg Williams, from Bury, Lee Burgess and Laura Guthrie, from Prestwich, Lucy Butterworth, of Middleton, Jennifer Hoyle, of Little Lever, and Jamal Onuekwusi, of Salford.

Barbara Sobrero, the show's director and lecturer in theatre and performing arts, said: "This is possibly the best opportunity students could have with regard to theatre and performance. It is an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

Fo, a Nobel prize-winner, himself gave permission for the students to perform the piece from August 22 to 30 at the Fringe. A bawdy, irreverent tale of corruption and deceit, it's maybe no surprise that the Bury contingent played to packed audiences every night! They road-tested their adaptation by performing it at local theatres before heading north.

Andy Tomlinson, programme manager for performing arts, added: "All the staff at Bury College are extremely proud of the students, especially after the performances were so well received by the festival audiences. It bodes well for the future as we are planning new events for performing arts students on all our courses."