The First World War has inspired countless pieces of art: from Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong to John Singer Sargent’s painting, Gassed.

However, few are as daring as Oh What A Lovely War.

Premiered in 1963, it was adapted for the screen by Richard Attenborough in 1969.

This new production, at Theatre Royal Brighton, has all the laughs, shocks and utter devastation.

The all-singing all-dancing cast, led by Ian Reddington, never stop, changing characters from German generals to Tommy soldiers and then French cavalrymen in the space of a scene.

The play starts by explaining the cause of the war before exploring the impact for the many countries involved.

The most powerful scenes depict life in the trenches: from the Christmas Day truce to gas attacks and The Somme.

The production repeatedly lulls you in a false sense of security by delivering a toe-stamping rendition of a popular war time song before projecting the casualty number of certain battles (often in their millions) or photographs of wounded and decapitated men from the front.

When first released in the 1960s, the production was too shocking for some - even disrespectful. More than 50 years on it still hits you for six.

A truly fascinating take on the Great War.