THE WIPERS TIMES Takes a Satirical Look at Life in the Trenches
By: Liz Cearns Sep. 28, 2016
In a bombed out building during the First World War in the French town of Ypres (mis-pronounced Wipers by the 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. The production takes place one hundred years after the Battle of the Somme and the first publication of The Wipers Times.
Written by Ian Hislop (writer, journalist, editor of Private Eye, panellist on Have I Got News For You) and Nick Newman (writer, journalist, satirical cartoonist), the story of The Wipers Times is interspersed with comic sketches and spoofs and stars Kevin Brewer (Henderson), Eleanor Brown (Kate Roberts/Madame Fifi, Lady Somersby Smith), Sam Ducane (Howfield/MC), James Dutton (Roberts), George Kemp (Pearson), Peter Losasso (Dodd), Jake Morgan (Barnes) and Dan Tetsell (General Mitford).
The Wipers Times comes to the Lyceum Theatre from Thursday 3 - Saturday 5 November. Tickets can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres' Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk and are priced from £19.00 - £27.00 (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash). Concessions and group discounts are available.
There will be a Q & A with writers Ian Hislop and Nick Newman after the performance on Friday 4 November in the Lyceum auditorium.
The Wipers Times is directed by Caroline Leslie and designed by Dora Schweitzer, with lighting designed by James Smith and sound designed by Steve Mayo. The composer is Nick Green and musical direction is by Paul Herbert. It is a Trademark Touring production and co-commission with The Watermill Theatre.
Crucible Lyceum Studio 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Box Office 0114 249 6000 - Mon - Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm
A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).
On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm.
The Wipers Times
Lyceum Theatre
Thu 3 - Sat 5 November
Press Night: Thursday 3 November 7.45pm
Thu - Sat 7.45pm
Sat 3.00pm
Tickets £19.00 - £27.00
Concessions and groups discounts available
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