The Wipers Times

The Wipers Times to return to the West End this autumn

Will Longman
Will Longman

Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's play The Wipers Times is set to return to the West End following a run at the Arts Theatre last year.

The play is based on a TV film written by Hislop and Newman, and tells the story of a group of soldiers in the Belgian town of Ypres who find a printing press and begin to work on a satirical newspaper from the trenches. The paper was called The Wipers Times ('Wipers' being what British troops called Ypres), and went on to inspire the creation of satirical papers across the globe including Charlie Hebdo, The Onion and Private Eye, for which Hislop is the editor and Newman is a cartoonist.

The Wipers Times premiered at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury in 2016 before embarking on a UK tour and run at the Arts Theatre. It will return to the Arts Theatre from 16th October to 1st December, with an official opening night on 18th October.

In our original review of the West End production, LondonTheatre.co.uk said: 'The play serves as a reminder that even in the darkest moments humour can illuminate a way through and that British human spirit is in many ways undefeatable.'

The Wipers Times is directed by Caroline Leslie, designed by Dora Schweitzer, with lighting design by James Smith, sound design by Steve Mayo.

The Wipers Times is at the Arts Theatre from 16th October to 1st December, with an official opening on 18th October.

The Wipers Times Tickets are available now.

Originally published on

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