The Captain of Köpenick (1931) by Carl Zuckmayer is a biting comic satire on the power of image over substance. This production is the first UK airing of John Mortimer's excellent translation since 1971. It tells the true story of Wilhelm Voigt, an unemployed ex-convict living in pre-First World War Köpenick, east of Berlin. Trapped in the unforgiving bureaucracy of the militaristic German state, Voigt finds it impossible to integrate back into society. In desperation he obtains an officer's uniform and assumes command of the town, counting on the power of the uniform to remain unchallenged.