(i have requested a pic but hasn't come yet so can you use a generic exeter blitz image in the meantime. ta)EYE witness accounts of the Exeter Blitz are being brought to the stage in an inspiring, insightful and humorous play.
Viva Voce, who have a residency at The Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter, interviewed 16 people who were between the ages of six and 25 in 1942, to gather first-hand verbatim testimony from those who witnessed the raids in Exeter during World War Two.
The staging of their extraordinary stories forges connections across generations and encourages residents to see their city in a new light.
The company is staging The Exeter Blitz Project from now until Saturday, December 14, following a sell-out run in May 2012.
Among the stories being told on the stage is that of Roger Free who was 11 years old in 1942.
He said: "On the night of May 3, I recall walking up the road to a vantage point during a longer than usual, noisier than usual air raid, and seeing the heart of the city of Exeter ablaze.
"This was The Blitz, or as my diary recorded this unfamiliar word, the Blizt. And I added, next day, with all the reserve of one of those great stiff-upper-lip wartime films, 'Did not bother to go to school'!"
Between 1940 and 1942, Exeter was raided by the German Luftwaffe 19 times. The worst raid took place in the early hours of May 4, 1942. The event dramatically altered the landscape of the city forever.
Performances take place on Thursdays at 2pm and 7.30pm; Fridays at 7pm; and Saturdays at 2pm and 7.30pm.
As part of their residency at The Bike Shed Theatre, Viva Voce has gathered new material from testimony for their current production, and will present a selection of readings, talks and screenings of previous work and related material.
Viva Voce's mission is to create theatre from the words of real people, propelled by the belief that sharing and listening to each other's life experiences can enrich our communities, and in turn, our lives.
Tickets for the show cost £12 adults, £8 concessions. Call 01392 434169 or visit the Bike Shed Theatre website.
