AsOne theatre company is looking for V E Day memories from communities of: Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester, and surrounding villages in-between.
Although there are few living who will remember being there left, it’s known there are some wonderful people aged in their 90 to 100’s still with these stories to tell, or their descendants who have treasured memories, letters, diaries, or books of loved ones (a – grandparent, parent, or even close friend). Maybe schools could ask their pupils to gather stories from their family as a legacy.
The theatre company will (with their permission) professionally record them, telling/reading their legacy story for an exhibition at the Nothe Fort, and to be lodged at the Dorset History Centre for a living history voiced resource for future researchers to have access to. They will also be voiced by actors live in a show of memories and music at the Nothe Fort ( 3rd and 4th May) and in Dorchester for the Town Council’s community Lighting of a VE Day Beacon on the evening of Thursday 8 May.
These stories will be few and far between but as a legacy, so important to collect them for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, as the last Living Voices of this historical event remain with us or in their family’s memory. Lest we forget! A String of Pearls.
Jane McKell, Artistic Director of AsOne, says:
“As Artistic Director of AsOne, in a previous career, I was a producer, and presenter of a programme of memories called Touching Time, Wessex Fm every Sunday for three years 1993-96 — before I left to go to the BBC for a period. During those three years with Wessex FM, I recorded and presented a VE Day special. I also collected 200 memories in 2004/5 for a musical theatre show, A String of Pearls toured by AsOne theatre company to some 30 + venues which mainly sold out!
“We need these memories to be recorded (professionally) in early April DTBC with individuals. our deadline for submissions midnight Friday 21 March when they will be collated, edited, and produced to be installed for the exhibition; and some written as monologues to be read LIVE during the performances.”
