The Wipers Times
Synopsis
Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s The Wipers Times tells the true and extraordinary story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme. The Wipers Times is coming to Leicester direct from a record breaking West End season.
In a bombed out building during the First World War in the Belgian town of Ypres (mis-pronounced Wipers by British soldiers), two officers discover a printing press and create a newspaper for the troops. Far from being a sombre journal about life in the trenches, they produced a resolutely cheerful, subversive and very funny newspaper designed to lift the spirits of the men on the front line.
Defying enemy bombardment, gas attacks and the disapproval of many of the top Brass, The Wipers Times rolled off the press for two years and was an extraordinary tribute to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.
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Q&A WITH IAN HISLOP & NICK NEWMAN
Tue 25 Sep, following the 7.30pm performance
Stick around after the performance and learn more about The Wipers Times with the show’s writers, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman. This unique opportunity is free with your show ticket.
Running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes (inc. interval)
Tickets
£32.50 – £10*
DISCOUNTS
£15* Under 16s
£18* 16 – 26 yrs (with a free
16-26 Membership)
£2.50 off for over 60s and registered unemployed
£15 Under 18s school groups
£4 off for Groups 10+
£5 off for Groups 20+
15% off for Members or 241 Tickets for Members on Mon 24 Sep
*Discounts are subject to availability and may be removed at any time. Only valid on certain performances - terms and conditions apply.
Credits & Acknowledgments
CAROLINE LESLIE
Director
BOB BENTON
Producer
DAVID PARFITT
Producer
IAN HISLOP
Writer
NICK NEWMAN
Writer
DORA SCHWEITZER
Designer
NICK GREEN
Composer
JAMES SMITH
Lighting Designer
STEVE MAYO
Sound Designer
PAUL HERBERT
Musical Director
SIMON FRIEND
ENTERTAINMENT
General Manager
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Reviews
Wonderfully theatrical
WhatsonStage
What this play brilliantly conveys, without any sentimentality and with copious gags, is that the production of a few fragile pieces of paper came almost to matter more to those chaps involved than life itself.
Daily Telegraph
Even – perhaps especially – at its silliest, the play has a respect for its subject matter that is deadly serious and decidedly affecting
The Times
There is both seriousness and sadness and a touching respect for men who, surrounded by hell, had the guts to laugh about it
Financial Times
Cast & Creative
Kevin Brewer
Clio Davies
Sam Ducane
James Dutton
George Kemp
Chris Levens
Dan Mersh
Jake Morgan
Joseph Reed
Emilia Williams
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