March 28, 2014 2.50 pm This story is over 120 months old

Lincoln World War letters play needs residents’ help

The Last Post: A new play reinacting the life of a Lincoln family torn apart by war needs help from residents.

The eight brothers featuring in the letters. They all sign up to serve in World War One, but only three returned.

A play focusing around letters sent between a local family during World War One needs the help of Lincoln residents.

The Last Post is a play by Lincoln Mystery Plays Community Theatre Company, reinacting the story of a local family torn apart by the war.

The 300 letters the company are using are stored in the Lincolnshire Archives on St Rumbold’s Street, after they were donated to the city by the granddaughter of the late Amy Beechey.

The letters are correspondence from Amy’s eight sons, all of which went to war, from the training camps, trenches, dugouts and hospitals.

Of the eight sons who went to war, only three returned, one of whom was crippled.

The play of their lives, acted through the eyes of Amy’s daughter, Edie, and how the family at home composed themselves, will run during Armistice Week this November at Lincoln Drill Hall, but needs residents’ help in the run up to the event.

So far, two volunteer writers have gone through the letters and met with the benefactor to create the play, but the theatre company still needs support in all roles from acting, staging, costume, support and production.

A launch event for The Last Post for interested parties will be held in the Old Staff Room at Bishop Grosseteste University on March 31 at 7.30pm.

Volunteers of all ages and gender are welcome that want to help with the story and creative the vision.

Artistic Director Janie Smith said: “I sincerely hope that as many people as possible join us to tell this remarkable story of our City and our predecessors.

“We hope that people will want to be involved, in whatever capacity. Just come along to hear what is being planned and how to become involved and I’m sure you will as moved in your desire to pay tribute to the astonishing Amy Beechey and her boys as I am.”

If you are unable to attend the event but would still like to be involved, email [email protected] or call 01522 537838.

More information will be available soon on the Lincoln Mystery Plays website and at the Drill Hall.