Encore Theatre Club are at Bridport Arts Centre stage this week with a timely production of Oh! What a Lovely War.

The club’s actors have been rehearsing hard to bring the play, originally devised by Joan Littlewood and the Theatre Workshop, to Bridport.

Oh! What a Lovely War is a searing satire on the futility of war and uses comedy and the songs of the period, contrasted with the stark horror of the conflict, to bring home the conditions faced by those caught up in the conflict.

The performance is seen as one of the most important stage pieces to be produced about the First World War and has won a number of awards, becoming a classic of modern theatre.

Miles Bell, Encore director, said: “This play changed the way people see theatre, and it is something that Encore has wanted to do for some time.

“We felt that, given the anniversary commemorations, this year would be an appropriate time to revive this wonderful, funny and at times harrowing play.

“The rehearsals have brought everyone together and we’re really pleased with the way it’s developing.

“A recent ‘taster’ at the arts centre’s 40th anniversary show was amazingly well received and we are looking forward to bringing the whole show to the stage next week.”

The show adapts the period’s music hall songs to tell the story of soldiers on the front and the families they left behind.

Many will be familiar to audiences today such as ‘Pack up your Troubles’, ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ and ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’.

Performances continue from today to Saturday at Bridport Arts Centre.

Tickets are selling fast and are £10 and on sale at the Arts Centre Box Office.

Call 01308 424204, or go to bridport-arts.com