In May 1926, Britain grinds to a halt, as workers down tools for the General Strike.

With the printing presses shut down, the only sources of news are the government's British Gazette, edited by Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill, and the independent, fledgling British Broadcasting Company, led by John Reith. The stage is set for a fierce battle over control of the news and who gets to define the truth.

Jack Thorne's When Winston Went To War With The Wireless is a gripping play about the birth of a great British institution and its efforts to stay impartial. It premiered at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in June 2023, directed by Katy Rudd, with Stephen Campbell Moore as Reith, Adrian Scarborough as Churchill, and Haydn Gwynne as Stanley Baldwin.

'Jack Thorne never ceases to stimulate and entertain' Evening Standard

About the Author

Jack Thorne's other plays include work for the National Theatre, the Royal Court, The Old Vic and Headlong, as well as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He is a BAFTA-winning screenwriter whose television work includes His Dark Materials, Then Barbara Met Alan (with Genevieve Barr), The Eddy, Help, The Accident, Kiri, National Treasure and This is England '86/'88/'90, and whose films include The Swimmers (with Sally El Hosaini), Enola Holmes, Radioactive, The Aeronauts and Wonder.

Reviews

'Utterly compelling'

* The Times *

'Wily and fascinating... the script teems with detail... glows with affection for the idea and the ideals of early radio... Alongside acute sideswipes at police violence, the restriction of the right to strike or protest, and Tory infighting, Thorne has tremendous, debunking fun with his main characters... a fascinating reminder of how history repeats itself, usually as comedy'

* Evening Standard *

'Gripping... a riveting, resonant play'

* Financial Times *

'A fascinating segment of history... the play creates a shimmering sense of the past... Thorne triumphantly uses real history to create a compelling drama that is both amusing, touching and revealing'

* WhatsOnStage *

'A steel-coated document of the icy political waltz between the BBC and Winston Churchill... what is it to control truth and speak truth to power?'

* Broadway World *

'Pacy and evocative... the stagecraft dazzles'

* Guardian *

'Fascinating... Jack Thorne is a one-man writing powerhouse'

* iNews *

'A joyful celebration of the BBC... vividly evokes the Corporation's giddy early days'

* Telegraph *

'Enthralling... magical... plenty of humour... a fascinating glimpse at two men who have shaped the history of this country'

* Theatre Weekly *



Book Information
ISBN 9781839042225
Author Jack Thorne
Format Paperback
Page Count 112
Imprint Nick Hern Books
Publisher Nick Hern Books
Weight(grams) 132g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 8mm