New WW2 film for VE Day 'will bring stories to life'

The new film released on VE Day will tell of war experiences from various generations

A short film looking at intergenerational perspectives of World War Two is being released on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

The 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 Two.

It 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 Two.

The CGWC has collated the war experiences of members of the public with funding from the Post Office Remembrance Fellowship.

On 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".

For Evermore: Stories of the Fallen is also an online resource

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".

Julian Glover starred in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and Star Wars film

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 screened.

It 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 Conclave.

The 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.

Sian Phillips, who appears in The Next Morning, won a Bafta for her role in I, Claudius

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 UK.

More than 2,500 young people, who include Duke of Edinburgh ambassadors and Commonwealth scholars, will also watch the show live on Horse Guards Parade.

Culture 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