Scene Breakdowns

• Act 1, Scene 1


  Robert's goes for an interview with the Daily News and meets a nonchalant sub editor.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 1

  Combatants and non-combatants.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 1 to

  Dulce et Decorum Est.
• Act 1, Scene 2

  Ypres.

  Roberts and his men are looking for material to help reinforce the trenches when they find a printing press.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 2


  Attitudes towards reporting conflict.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 2 to

  Dulce et Decorum Est.
• Act 1, Scene 3

  Roberts den.

  Roberts and Pearson are discussing what they should write for Wipers.

  Optimism sketch.

  Taxi sketch.

  Sweet heart sketch.

  Subaltern sketch.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 3

  Patriotism.

  Duty.

  Futility of war.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 3 to

  Futility.
• Act 1, Scene 4

  Printing of the first Wipers Times.

  Roberts and the men celebrate by drinking champagne.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 4


  Comradery.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 4 to

  Apologia pro Poemate Mei.
• Act 1, Scene 5


  Divisional HQ in Arras.

  Howfield is angry about the publication of Wipers - contrast to Mitford.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 5

  Duty.

  Power.

  Honour.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 5 to

  Dulce et Decorum Est.
• Act 1, Scene 6

  Trench.

  Robert discusses what should be in the Wipers and Pearson says it needed some poetry.

  Germans start to sing 'Hymn of Hate'.

  They agree that if the British wrote songs of hate they would be 'funnier'.
• Key themes Act 1, Scene 6

  Courage.

  Emotions.

  Englishness.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 6 to

  Apologia pro Poemate Mei.
• Act 1, Scene 7


  Music hall.

  They introduce a selection of weapons which add to the music.

  The sappers sing the anti-patriotic bugle song.

  Scene ends with Kate Roberts - singing Remember.
• Key themes Act 1, Scene 7

  Duty.

  Personal loss.

  Freedom.

  Combatants.

  Women.

  Emotion.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 7 to

  Apologia pro Poemate Mei.
• Act 1, Scene 8

  Dugout.

  Roberts is reading the 'music hall' proofs.

  Roberts and Pearson receive letters from home.

  Roberts' wife sends a clipping from the Tattler newspaper where Wipers is mentioned.

  Howfield arrives for an inspection.

  When he leaves fresh bombardment begins - Roberts puts on a gramophone and sings 'courage song.'

  Printing press was destroyed during the bombardment.
• Key themes Act 1, Scene 8


  Authority.

  Courage.

  Anger.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 8 to

  Inspection.
• Act 1, Scene 9

  A trench.

  The printer parts are now part of the trench and there is a lot of noise.

  Roberts is angry because of the loss of the printing press.

  Roberts speaks to the Officer in charge of the raiding party.

  Tyler found another printing press in Hellfire Corner.

  Roberts is now happy.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 9

  Courage.

  Survival.

  Sacrifice.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 9 to

  Futility.
• Act 1, Scene 10

  On screen - Roberts' imagination.

  Revue 'Over the Top' which is the greatest show on earth.

  Trench and Foot perform Minor Worried - Nevermind.

  Scene closes with a gas attack in the trench - Roberts is staggering frantically to try and put on his gas mask.

  He is helped by another soldier.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 10

  Courage.

  Englishness.

  Horror.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 10 to

  Insensibility.
• Act 1, Scene 11


  Field hospital.

  Roberts enters in a wheelchair.

  Roberts says he will return to the frontline soon - he was lucky.

  First mention of Hilaire Belloc - war reporter.

  Switch to the fantasy world if the newspaper - Sums sketch.

  Roberts receives a telegram to say that he is going home on leave.

  'After the war' song to close the scene.
• Key themes Act 1, Scene 11

  Injury.

  Trauma.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 11 to

  Apologia pro Poemate Mei.
• Act 1 Scene 12

  French bar.

  Roberts goes to Madame Fifi's and discusses the war.

  They dance.
• Key themes in Act 1 Scene 12

  Women.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 12 to

  Strange Meeting.
• Act 1, Scene 13


  Editorial den.

  Pearson is talking to Henderson about acknowledging officers on the front.

  Roberts returns and he finds out that they are moving back to the Somme.
• Key themes in Act 1, Scene 13

  Authority.

  Futility of war.

  Duty.
• Poem to compare Act 1, Scene 13 to

  Apologia pro Poemate Mei.
• Act 1, Scene 14

  Trench - the Somme.

  Men are preparing to go over the top.

  They discuss the paper and then give out 'rum ration' to the men.

  Dodd asks whether this is the 'big push.'

  Roberts gives a rousing speech.

  Roberts starts to tell a joke which Pearson finishes.

  They then go over the top.