National Theatre film and Imperial War Museums bring Second World War stories to a new generation as part of VE Day 80 plans
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Today, Wednesday 12 March, the Department for Culture, Media and
Sport has announced a programme of activity to mark the 80th
anniversary of VE Day. In addition to four days of events and
celebrations to commemorate the end of the Second World War in
Europe, additional activities will include a new film, a national
call out for the public to look for letters written during the war,
an immersive AR experience and resources for every school in the
country. To mark the...Request free
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Today, Wednesday 12 March, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced a programme of activity to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. In addition to four days of events and celebrations to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe, additional activities will include a new film, a national call out for the public to look for letters written during the war, an immersive AR experience and resources for every school in the country. To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a new film will be released, telling the stories of young people as they looked ahead to a future free from conflict. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “We must use the 80th anniversary of VE Day to reaffirm our shared commitment to preserve the memory of the men and women across the UK who served and sacrificed so much for the world we live in today. “By remembering and reflecting on their stories, we will pass on the baton to the next generation to ensure that they too can preserve the values that were fought for during the Second World War.” The education and community programme is designed to give every young person in the country the opportunity to engage with veterans and hear first hand testimony of the impact of war. Film and performance:
Resources for schools:
National tours and engagement opportunities:
Second World War veteran Olga Hopkins, 99, who served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and became a teacher after the war, said: “The Royal British Legion's education programme will give teachers and children access to first-hand accounts and living memories of veterans from the Second World War generation. Hearing the stories of those who were there 80 years ago on VE Day and lived through the conflict will help children recognise the impact war had on everyone and the freedom they enjoy today. “As a teacher for over 40 years, I am pleased to know children are being taught about the legacy they've inherited. I would encourage teachers and students to watch the RBL's films for schools and contribute to the time capsule, which will protect these important stories for the next 80 years and beyond.” James Bulgin, Head of Public History at Imperial War Museums said: “VE Day meant an end to war with Nazi Germany and an end to the killing after almost six years of brutal conflict. It also meant that families could finally look forward to being reunited, after years of separation. “For this 80th anniversary we are inviting schoolchildren to talk to their families, learn more about the Second World War and discover any letters sent by their relatives to loved ones. These can be uploaded to the official VE/VJ Day website so the nation can hear new, as yet untold stories of those who witnessed events first hand.” Kate Varah, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, said: "As the National Theatre, we are honoured to be part of marking this important moment in the country's history. Our film The Next Morning reflects on the aspirations that young people held for themselves and their country in 1945. The accompanying nationwide schools programme delivered through our tour of the smash-hit NT play Dear England, looks ahead, inviting young people today to share their hopes for the future. Through these inter-connected perspectives, the project will bring the voices of young people from 1945 and 2025 together, inspiring creativity in young people right across the country and spotlighting their dreams and aspirations." Playwright James Graham said: "How we remember this significant part of our national story for future generations is so important, which is why I feel genuinely honoured and excited to be involved and to see Gareth Southgate's ‘Dear England' letter as the inspiration for The Next Morning. We were so moved that the show drew in younger audiences to the theatre, and Gareth's story - like the themes drawn out of VE Day - is a captivating one for the next generation. One of identity, hope, and national togetherness. Much like the journey of this country following the war, it celebrates our capacity for rebirth, and renewal." ENDS Notes to Editors Members of the public are invited to share letters and the stories of their family in the Second World War via - https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk/get-involved/ The public are invited to share their pictures of their preparations for Tip Top Towns on the DCMS VE Day website and across social media using the #VE80 hashtag. There will be a VE Day certificate available to all who participate. Schools, teachers and community youth groups are invited to download the VE/VJ schools planning pack “Our Shared Story” to start planning activities for young people from https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk/get-involved/. IWM IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War. Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people's lives. IWM's five branches which attract over 1 million visitors each year are IWM London, which has recently transformed with new, permanent and free Second World War Galleries, The Holocaust Galleries and the Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, Britain's best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill's secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast. About the National Theatre The National Theatre makes theatre that entertains and inspires using its creativity, expertise and unique reach. The National Theatre shares unforgettable stories with millions of audience members across the UK and around the world – on its own stages, on tour, in schools, on cinema screens and streaming at home. World-leading artists make their best work at the National Theatre with the widest possible audience and impact. The National Theatre invests in talent and innovation on stage and off, taking seriously its role as the nation's theatre. Of the new productions developed each year with a wide range of theatre companies, a third of that research and development resource is dedicated to shows staged at theatres outside London. Through touring our work to local theatres and schools and nationwide education and community programmes, we are active in every local authority in the UK. A registered charity with deeply embedded social purpose, the National Theatre works with hundreds of schools and communities across the UK to fire imagination and inspire creativity, and to develop skills and pathways for careers in theatre. For more information, please visit nationaltheatre.org.uk The Royal British Legion The RBL is the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting the needs of the Armed Forces community, past and present and their families. The RBL is the champion of Remembrance and safeguards the Armed Forces Covenant. The RBL is well known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy. For further information, visit rbl.org.uk. |