The Gathering: Messages from the Great War

25 Apr 2024

Photo: Alastair Nisbet Tickets are on sale for another performance of original documentary theatre, called ‘The Gathering - Messages from the Great War’, which takes place on Friday, June 8 at 7.30 in Wimborne Minster.   Venue: Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1HT £8/£7, suitable for 12 years and over; booking essential as audience number limited; from Wimborne TIC: 01202 886116       The play is a commemoration of the lives of two local soldiers, Will Cutler and Hubert Wareham, who died during the First World War, and two people closely involved in their lives: Will’s wife, Tillie, and the Vicar of Wimborne Minster, Reverend James Fletcher. The first performance took place in Feburary, at Holtwood Methodist Chapel where Will married Tillie Frampton, in 1913, and further performances are planned as part of Wimborne History Festival in July. The play is based on the stories and photographs from current family members, and research by Wimborne’s town crier, Chris Brown, as well as research gathered over recent years as apart of the development of WCT’s production ‘What They Left Behind’ (2016). https://www.wimbornecommunitytheatre.co.uk/gathering-family-memories-priests-house-museum/

Liz Frampton, Tillie’s granddaughter, who lives in the same village her grandparents once lived, said: “I am excited that this performance will give me a tiny glimpse of my grandparents, Will and Tillie, whose life I was not privileged to share.”

Visitors to the Priest’s House Museum will be familiar with Hubert Wareham, whose portrait, resplendent in medals for school achievement, is displayed in the schoolroom.

Alan Wareham, Hubert’s great nephew, said: “ We are looking forward to attending the play as it has really brought my Great Uncle Hubert’s story to life and it recognises and honours the great sacrifice that he and others made”. Writers, Gill Horitz and Tony Horitz, said:“The play is based on letters, photographs and stories provided by family members, local historians and Museum archives.  Using them as stimuli, we have dramatised the voices and thoughts of these four people from these remaining fragments of their lives.”    James Webb from the Priest’s House Museum said:“As part of the project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, volunteers are undertaking research into the people of East Dorset affected by the conflict on the home front and the front line. Family members have come forward with archives and stories, which have proved invaluable. The use of theatre has the ability to make these stories accessible to new audiences.”

The production will be enhanced by projected images, created by Alastair Nisbet, of ScreenPLAY, and performances by four Dorset-based professional actors: Kevin Burke, Bryony Reynolds, Joe Urquhart, and Jake Baker. The production by State of Play Arts has been commissioned by the Priest’s House Museum, as part of its ‘The One Hundred Year Heritage of the First World War for Wimborne and East Dorset’ project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Priest’s House Museum  http://www.priest-house.co.uk State of Play Arts http://stateofplayarts.co.uk ScreenPLAY: http://www.screen-play.co.uk