London run for WWI satire

The stage adaptation of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s The Wipers Times is heading to the West End.

The show, based on their award-winning BBC film, tells the true story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme.

 In the stage show, historical facts are interspersed with comic sketches and spoofs from those who served on the front line.

The show will run at the Arts Theatre from Tuesday March 21 to Saturday  3 May 13 next year.

In a statement, the writers said: ‘We thought it would all be over by Christmas - but we are delighted that following a sell-out tour, The Wipers Times continues with a run at the Arts Theatre.  

‘A hundred years after World War One, London audiences will have a chance to see this forgotten true story about a satirical trench newspaper and discover that the black humour of The Wipers Times is still remarkably fresh, funny and poignant. We are thrilled that it’s not going to be all quiet on the West End Front…’

The magazine was started after two officers discovered a printing press in a bombed out building in the Belgian town of Ypres, mispronounced Wipers by British soldiers.

But far from being a sombre journal about life in the trenches they produced a resolutely cheerful, subversive and funny newspaper designed to lift the spirits of the men on the frontline. Defying enemy bombardment, gas attacks and the disapproval of many of the Top Brass, The Wipers Times ran for two years.

The cast includes Kevin Brewer, James Dutton, George Kemp,  Jake Morgan and Dan Tetsell and is directed by Caroline Leslie.

Reviews of the touring production praised the way it found humour amid the horror of the trenches,  with actors newspaper The Stage seeing ‘hints of Monty Python and Blackadder Goes Forth’ in the show.

Published: 1 Dec 2016