Play recalls war-time story

A play telling of day-to-day home life continuing with a war raging far away will be brought to life once again on Friday night.

The Centenary Show tells the story of life 100 years ago through the diary by Brunswick resident Emily Ker Clifton, as well as letters, poems and music from the era.

The show, which focuses on the families of the soldiers away at war, was first performed in November to commemorate the centenary of the armistice of World War I.

Organisers from the Brunswick Community Resource Centre said demand from the community led them to hold an encore performance with new cast members.

Two of the new performers, 14-year-olds Jack and Ethan Nankivell, said reading through the war-time diaries and letters was tough.

“There was a lot of emotion in the letters back home,” Ethan said.

“They missed home. They didn’t know what war would be about.”

Jack said the diaries written by Emily Ker Clifton share the story of how the families had to carry on while their loved ones were at war.

“Life went on here for everybody left behind,” program coordinator Tina Wallis said.

Show pianist and creator Lyndon Edwards said he felt there needed to be recognition for what people did back then, and how hard it could be for those left behind.

He said performing the show in the town hall, the site of the old hall which the diaries talked about, added something special.

“In those days they held fundraisers for the war effort, welcomes and farewells,” he said.

“We are on the same site where a lot of these things happened.”

For more information on the show contact the Brunswick CRC.