Following the smash-hit success of The Wipers Times, which played to packed houses at the Devonshire Park Theatre last year, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s new play, Trial by Laughter, comes to Eastbourne from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th March 2019.
The Private Eye Editor and Have I Got News for You Captain Ian and Satirical Cartoonist Nick, have taken inspiration from real-life events for their new historical drama, which the pair have described as a “courtroom thriller with jokes”; think The Madness of King George meets A Few Good Men meets Crown Court!
William Hone, the forgotten hero of free speech, was a shy bookseller, a publisher of cartoons and pamphlets. In 1817, he stood trial for “impious blasphemy and seditious libel”. The only crime he had committed was to be funny about the government and the monarchy. Along with his great ally, political cartoonist George Cruikshank, Hone sought vindication for his laughable offences and fought for freedom in one of the most remarkable legal cases of its time. “Amazingly Hone was tried 3 times in 3 days. At the end of each day when the jury found him innocent they just tried him again the next morning!” explains Hislop.
Nick says: “This amazing man – a complete nobody really who took on the might of the government in a landmark case” Ian adds: “It’s incredible. He had his moment when history beckoned and then fell into obscurity, to our shame really.” This new play, adapted from their original radio play, will right this wrong and return the spotlight to one of the first freedom fighters of his age!
Ian Hislop is a journalist, satirist, writer, broadcaster, Nick Newman is a comedy writer and satirical British cartoonist who met as youths working on revues at Ardingly College in East Sussex. Ian and Nick continued their partnership at Oxford and have been regular writing partners since. Their previous writing credits include the film A Bunch of Amateurs, Theatre hit The Wipers Times, TV work includes Spitting Image, My Dad’s the Prime Minister, Murder Most Horrid and numerous radio credits.
Trial by Laughter appears from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th March and, to get the best seats in the Devonshire Park Theatre courtroom, you can call Box Office on 01323 412000 or tickets are also available online at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk