After the success of The Wipers Times in the West End and across the country, Ian Hislop and Nick Newman take inspiration from real life events for their new play Trial by Laughter, based on their BBC Radio 4 drama.
Trial by Laughter is at The Lowry from January 29 until February 2.
In 1817, bookseller, publisher and satirist William Hone stood trial for parodying religion, the despotic government and the libidinous monarchy. The only crime he had committed was to be funny.
In 2018, Hislop and Newman rediscover this hero of free speech and ask if, just over 200 years later, our press has any greater freedom.