This country is at war with Germany.

We shall go under the end.

I remember the sheets of flame which came up and almost blinded us for my guns.

Hello and welcome to a special episode of the World War II podcast.

When I talked to Eric Lee about Operation Fox Lee, he mentioned that in London

was a theatre production of Operation Vince McMahon which was currently running.

Eric suggested that the story was so fantastical that the player runs as a comedy

as it's hard to believe that such a scheme could actually be true.

Well, that got me thinking.

Currently at the Alexandria Palace Theatre this summer is Tom Dick and Harry

a player telling the story of the Great Escape.

I thought it might be interesting to talk about how you take a story so familiar to many of us

growing up watching endless reruns of the film and change that into a play.

And how do you deal with a fantastic which is true but on top of that you need to deal with the legend

which might have little in relation to what actually happened.

I'm joined by Teresa Heskins.

Teresa is the artistic director of the new Vic theatre and also the writer and director of Tom Dick and Harry.

Thanks for joining me.

Now let's start with the story of Tom Dick and Harry.

I'm sure everyone is familiar but on the off chance there is somebody who's not.

For those not sure of what the story of the Great Escape is.

Do you want to run us through it?

...