Latest news with #TheNextMorning
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
VE Day: War film The Next Morning 'will bring stories to life'
A short film looking at intergenerational perspectives of World War Two is being released on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe National Theatre's film, The Next Morning, features award-winning actors Julian Glover and Sian Phillips and includes connected stories to present views of the end of World War will be screened on 8 May at the VE Day 80 concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. To coincide with the short film, an interactive mobile exhibition of war stories will also tour across the UK, beginning in Coventry, the British city which suffered the most concentrated air attack during the war. The For Evermore Tour, which launches at Coventry Cathedral on 2 May, has been created by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and will bring to life histories and stories from World War CGWC has collated the war experiences of members of the public with funding from the Post Office Remembrance the evening of 2 May, a concert will be held in Coventry Cathedral to commemorate VE Day 80 in aid of the charitable arm of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation. A CWGC spokesperson said: "Set in the stunning historic Coventry Cathedral, this promises to be a magical evening of music, commemoration, and remembrance."And added the event would, "mark the incredible legacy of liberation left by the veterans of the Second World War and remember over 600,000 men and women of the Commonwealth who lost their lives in this world-changing conflict". Claire Horton, director general at the CWGC, said: "By collating these stories in what will become the definitive resource of the stories of those who died in the world wars, we have created an enduring tribute to the men and women from across the Commonwealth who gave their lives, and we ensure that they will never be forgotten."The CWG's Torch for Peace will also be present throughout the tour, which will travel to iconic locations and landmarks across the UK, acting as a baton to pass and share stories with future generations, the CWGC said. Ms Horton said stories of people whose lives were "cut short by conflict must be told and shared". On 8 May, The Next Morning film, which has been written by James Graham, who wrote Dear England - a play about ex-England football manager Gareth Southgate, will be will feature Julian Glover, 90, who starred in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Wars films, as well as Sian Phillips, 91, who won a Bafta for her role in I, Claudius, and Joseph Mydell, from the Academy Award-winning film film airs at the VE Day 80 concert, which more than 12,500 people, including war veterans, are expected to attend, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. The Royal British Legion, the British Evacuees Association and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission are among the organisations that are allocating VE Day 80 concert tickets to people across the than 2,500 young people, who include Duke of Edinburgh ambassadors and Commonwealth scholars, will also watch the show live on Horse Guards Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Through the National Theatre, the VE Day 80 concert and our UK-wide exhibition, we will bring to life the stories of those no longer with us so that the next generation are able to honour their sacrifice and recognise the legacy of peace that they fought to secure."The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One at 20:00 BST. Additional reporting by PA Media Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lisa Nandy urges next generation to ‘carry the torch' before VE Day anniversary
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has urged the next generation to 'carry the torch' of remembrance and strive for peace ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day. She announced the full programme of events to mark the anniversary at an event held at the National Theatre in central London on Wednesday. A service at Westminster Abbey, a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and the release of a new National Theatre film are among the planned events. There will also be an immersive augmented reality experience, resources for every school in the country and a national call for the public to submit letters written during the Second World War. Ms Nandy told the PA news agency: 'You can never take peace for granted and it is incumbent in every generation to strive for peace anew. 'That's particularly relevant with the turmoil going on in today's world and we want to make sure that this generation is able to carry the torch forwards. 'The programme of events that we have put together with veterans and others will help not just to celebrate and honour the sacrifice and the legacy that generation gave us but also bring the past flickering back to life for this new generation. 'We will have a moment at the Cenotaph where we have veterans and cadets and the message is very clear that it's up to our generation to carry that torch forwards, to honour their legacy, not just be remembering the sacrifice but by striving to protect the peace for which they gave so much.' Playwright James Graham, known for Sherwood and Dear England, has written a film called The Next Morning for the National Theatre as part of commemorations, and spoke at the event. It will showcase stories of young people after the Second World War and will be released during the four days of events. In her speech at the event, Ms Nandy said: 'This is one of the last opportunities that we will have to hear first-hand from that remarkable generation. 'This VE Day they will hand the torch on so that we can carry their legacy forwards. 'They gave us 80 years of peace through that remarkable sacrifice. Whether we have 80 years more peace is up to us.' The event also saw speeches from actress Fay Ripley, who read a letter sent from a mother to her daughter during the Second World War, and 17-year-old Leo Oliver, who read his great-grandfather's wartime letter. Speaking afterwards, Graham said: 'Given the state of the world at the moment – whether it's Ukraine or anything else – I think it's really important that younger people have an education in what that generation did in terms of being brave and going out there and doing that, protecting our freedoms, and given the context of the modern-day freedoms, we increasingly just can't take that for granted.'
