Strawberry Theatre Workshop (STW) returns with a three-play 2012 season focusing on political activists and activism. Two entries are encores of previous well-received shows from the company.

Dario Fo's satire "Accidental Death of an Anarchist," which opened this week, focuses on the interrogation of an alleged anarchist — or maybe he's just a delusional buffoon. Pratfalls and sendups ensue, but also a stinging critique of police corruption, by one of Italy's greatest playwrights.

New York-based Gabriel Baron, who directed STW's hit 2005 staging of "Anarchist," returns to direct the current production, which has a new cast led by Ryan Higgins.

Coming up is a revival of Greg Carter's visually arresting "This Land: Woody Guthrie," an homage to the music and activism of the great American tunesmith Guthrie, enacted by striking, large-scale puppets. It runs Sept. 6-Oct. 6.

And the season closes in January 2013 with "The Normal Heart," Larry Kramer's firebrand AIDS drama. Though recently encored on Broadway, Sheila Daniels' staging for STW will be a rare local version of the 1985 play widely credited with increasing awareness of the burgeoning AIDS epidemic.

All shows will be mounted at Erickson Theater, 1524 Harvard Ave., Seattle. "Accidental Death of an Anarchist" is on stage at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 4 (no show on Aug. 5); $15-30; (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

Misha Berson, Seattle Times theater critic