Reviews

• Jenny and Jo

  May 13, 2017

  Really sharp comedy. So relevant to today's world as well. The delivery was first class l could hear every word spoken by the actors .

• Philip Creese

  May 2, 2017

  well worth seeing , the theatre is small that you think you're in the trenches with them,!! I would plan your visit if you need seats with leg room book in advance. I would recommend it to others as i believe its going on tour. Briliant use of the set and stage set up.

• Barry H White

  May 2, 2017

  Funny, sad, thought provoking. WWW1 shaped history and is well studied, but this bit of humour was totally new to me.

• Ginny

  Apr 29, 2017

  This is a must see, it has , pathos humour, tragedy. Also the history of the Wipers Times, informs those who know nothing of the time period. The actors keep this pacy show up to speed. Great voices without being the standard usual musical. Impressive acting from all the cast.

• Lucy Lubbock

  Apr 28, 2017

  Ian Hislop and Nick Newman have brought to life a small episode during the Great War, against all odds a satirical paper is devised, printed and distributed amongst the soldiers stuck in the trenches near Ypres. British humour at its best, very well acted and directed. Catch it before it closes.

• Troytwells

  Apr 27, 2017

  Funny, original and excellent performances from all the cast in this production that gives an insight as to how a few dedicated men sought to raise the morale of Allied troops in the face of horrendous conditions.

• Emma

  Apr 26, 2017

  My daughter and I very much enjoyed the play: it is well thought out, well presented and the actors were excellent. We both feel it is a privliege to have been able to see this play and are recommending it to all.

• Ollie

  Apr 25, 2017

  Great show and a story worth knowing

• BathPoint

  Apr 19, 2017

  This is a fantastic play, a wonderfully moving story, superb acting, great set and clever script. I look forward to Ian Hislop's future theatrical endeavors!

• Ali

  Apr 6, 2017

  Excellent. Would highly recommend. Gripping throughout. Superbly acted.

• L Golding

  Apr 5, 2017

  Thoroughly enjoyed TheWipers Times. Excellent performances. We hadn't previously been to the Arts Theatre but it was the perfect venue for this play. Cant recommend both highly enough.

• Kay

  Apr 5, 2017

  Very funny play, whilst having a few heart rendering moments. Would reccomend

• Syeda

  Apr 3, 2017

  The cast was amazing. Every character so memorable and likeable. Costumes and set were brilliant as well.

• mike bassett

  Apr 2, 2017

  A very tight production - poignant; relevant ; captured the mood of the times spot on! Laughter rolled from us and was probably the best medicine the war could offer.

• John Miller

  Apr 2, 2017

  Moving and humorous in equal measure. Conjured up images of my grandfather, publican and stretcher-bearer, gassed at Passendale, died aged 45.

• Beverley Mead

  Apr 2, 2017

  I bought tickets as a birthday present for my husband I didn't think I would particularly enjoy it. I was completely wrong loved it from start to end. Endearing, honest, superb acting, wonderful story brilliantly told

• Colette

  Apr 1, 2017

  A gem of a Theatre. A fantastic play with an excellent cast. Recommend in the Times and it sounded interesting and funny so we bought tickets. So very pleased we did as it was exactly that - interesting and funny!

• Becky

  Apr 1, 2017

  This is a fantastic funny and touching show - what a great night at a lovely little theatre - would recommend it!

• Tim

  Apr 1, 2017

  Excellent, well worth the trip to London.

• Jane from Surbiton

  Apr 1, 2017

  This was our first visit to the Arts Theatre and we will definitely be back. The play was exceptional and all the cast worked incredibly hard to paint a picture of life in the trenches during WW1. The intimate nature of a small theatre worked well and , although the subject matter is incredibly dark I haven't laughed so much for years. Black comedy at its finest!

• David

  Mar 31, 2017

  The Wipers Times provides an enjoyable evening mixing historical fact with mirth and music. It hits just the right note in balancing light heartedness in a harrowing setting.

• P.Noakes

  Mar 30, 2017

  Funny, Tragic and tearful and full of the different characters that make up the mishmash of a army unit. The show is based on a true story from the trench's of the Great War and the gallows humour in the form of a news paper needed to stop the troops from going insane. A must see .......

• V Hughes

  Mar 27, 2017

  Bought tickets as a gift for my husband. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. An extremely good representation of the story with exceptional acting. A good combination of laughter, tinged with the reality of war.

• J & B

  Mar 27, 2017

  Very well performed show with a lot of history in it, without being heavy! Funny and sad at the same time.

• Yvonne

  Mar 27, 2017

  Really enjoyed the production - well acted, funny and lively

• Mark & Karen Clifton

  Mar 27, 2017

  The play far exceeded our expectations. It was very fast paced, funny and the musical elements further added to the entertainment. The story within the play was very well written and interesting , bringing humour to a very dark period in our history. Adding the fact that it is based on real events is incredible and gives further interest. The stage set design was very clever and the performers were just fantastic. Especially when you consider the complexity, the pace, playing multiple characters, singing, etc., just FANTASTIC ! This is a MUST SEE play, it far exceeded our expectations and we were blown away. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !

• Richard Davies

  Mar 26, 2017

  You cannot see anything on Stage or Screen about the Great War without being moved by the waste of young life and the wrecking of Empires without being moved . What had been elegantly achieved here though is the fact that humour has been added to the equation. Humour that is essentially relevant and of that time . Humour which would have been ,and was ,understood by the innocent participants of this monumental bloodbath. You can watch films like 'Oh what a Lovely War ' but The Wipers Times gets much closer to the real people involved.It summons up their ghosts who surprisingly invite us to laugh with them . This play is not only well written,as perhaps might be expected, it is also well directed and well acted , We felt this was an afternoon well spent and would recommend anyone who has an interest in the period or simple , kind , humanity in general to see this

• Di harries

  Mar 26, 2017

  Fantastic show !!!hilariously funny and yet very poignant

• Susan Freeman

  Mar 26, 2017

  Very good. We had seen the TVs version but still enjoyed the stage show

• nicholas beeson

  Mar 26, 2017

  Extremely well written and performed very funny

• Jackie

  Mar 26, 2017

  Really enjoyable. Lovely mix of narrative, song and glimpses of Wipers Times content. Enthusiastically performed. Great, intimate little theatre.

• Springtime

  Mar 25, 2017

  It is rough and ready like the newspaper itself and not to be compared with the slick production of O What a Lovely War. It has the feel of the trenches and captures the times. I hadn't seen the BBC film, but thought the stage play an excellent medium for telling this wonderful story.

• Mike Jones

  Mar 24, 2017

  I was in tears throughout, mostly of laughter but sometimes real. In short it was a joy. Hislop and Newman have done Roberts and Pearson proud. It was great to see the cast were enjoying themselves as much as we in the audience were.

• Lorna Majdalany

  Mar 24, 2017

  Really enjoyed Wipers Times -it is extremely well written and acted and is a timely reminder of the crucial importance of humour in troubled times ...

• Mary Rackham

  Mar 24, 2017

  Well written and well executed play. Highly entertaining without trivilising the seriousness and heartbreak of war. We laughed and shed a few tears. Would recommend seeing this.

• JennyB

  Mar 24, 2017

  We thoroughly enjoyed Wipers Times. We would recommend people go to see it. The cast were excellent as is the script by Ian Hyslop and Nick Newman.

• J R Price

  Mar 24, 2017

  Both my wife and myself found the play to be very amusing especially in the second half. It was very moving at times. The only complaint is that my seat was very very worn and uncomfortable it must have been like this for a very long time. This reflects very badly.

• Ann Y

  Mar 24, 2017

  An enjoyable play that provided a history lesson, a celebration of forgotten heroes, a message for our times and jokes! Who could ask more from an evening at the theatre?

• Ian

  Mar 24, 2017

  Amazing, inspirational, funny and thought-provoking. If you get the chance to see The Wipers Times, don't turn it down. Unmissable

• Vicky Spicer

  Mar 24, 2017

  This was a heartening, amusing and really enjoyable show with meaning. I hadn't been to t The Art's Theatre before, but will be going there again. Intimate and perfect for this show.

• Fishlyfishly

  Mar 22, 2017

  Get play. captures the spirit of ww1. Pacy, funny and very moving. Definitely recommend

• Oxlade

  Mar 22, 2017

  Really enjoyable evening watching The Wipers Times. A very though provoking storyline that makes you understand how awful it was to fight the war, but still keep the morale of the army going in desperate times. Good to see the British sense of humour survive and flourish throughout all the ranks. Great songs, stage layout and acting. A 'must see' event

• Kathryn Frazer

  Mar 22, 2017

  Found this interesting and moving