The Hampshire-based Forest Forge Theatre Company (which specialises in the creation of performances that share people’s stories) used this theatre project as an innovative way to engage with local heritage.

The Call Up focused on the experiences of both local men and soldiers from abroad who were stationed in Hampshire during the First World War. The company worked with local history societies and students from the University of Winchester to gather memories from local people. Their stories were then woven into a play, which toured throughout Hampshire. It was accompanied by an interactive display showcasing the research, as well as curtain raisers performed by local children, developed in a series of school workshops.

The project used genealogical connections and the power of performance to engage people with the heritage of the First World War, encouraging intergenerational exchange and equipping young people with skills in research and oral history interviews. It innovatively combined heritage and the arts, using the writing of a play as the opportunity to engage people with local history. 

David Haworth, researcher and writer, said: "I lost count of the number of people who had contributed stories coming up at the end, teary-eyed and thankful that we had told their story with clarity and respect."