The Wipers Times at the REP
On Thursday 11th October, I was part of a group of historians who went to the REP Theatre to watch a performance of the Wipers Times. The Wipers Times was a play set in the First World War, based on a true story, on how the 12th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters began a satirical newspaper whilst fighting on the front line in Ypres. The play provides an insight into some of the soldiers’ lives and views of the war on the front line. This was good preparation for those historians who will be visiting Ypres during the October half term. (Dhiren Gaddu, 11G)
The Wipers Times trip gives a new perspective to the First World War. It is about soldiers on the front line who found a printing press in mint condition. They went on to use the press to make their own satirical newspaper. This demonstrates how soldiers would find ways to distract themselves from the horrors of war which is shown in the play as the violence happens in the background. Overall the Wipers Times play was very thought provoking. (Akeem Wellington, 11A)
The Wipers Times was about two officers in the First World War in the Belgium town of Ypres (mispronounced as “Wipers” by the British soldiers) who found a printing press and made newspapers for the men in the front line designed to lift their spirits. Despite, the many challenges they faced during the war, the Wipers Times was produced for two years. This performance gave us a valuable insight into the lives of the men that fought in the First World War and all the hardships they faced. I would like to thank Mrs. Hartt on behalf of everyone that went for organising and taking us to see the performance. (Gagandeep Josan, 11A)
