THE Wipers Times by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman will return to Salisbury Playhouse after a sell-out run last year.

Direct from a record-breaking West End season, the play tells the true and extraordinary story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of The Somme, interspersed with comic sketches and spoofs from the vivid imagination of those on the front line.

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 satirical newspaper for the troops. Defying both authority and gas attacks, it proves a huge success with the troops on the Western Front.

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 Wipers Times cast includes Kevin Brewer (Henderson), James Dutton (Roberts), George Kemp (Pearson), Jake Morgan (Barnes) and Dan Tetsell (General Mitford).

The Wipers Times is directed by Caroline Leslie and designed by Dora Schweitzer.

It runs from Monday, October 23 to Saturday 28. Tickets: 01722 320333 or visit www.salisburyplayhouse.com.

A free exhibition documenting We’re here because we’re here, the UK-wide memorial to mark the centenary of The Battle of the Somme, is at Salisbury Playhouse during the run of The Wipers Times. The exhibition runs from October 4 to 26.