Theatres collaborate on commemoration of the Somme

Thousands of volunteers took part in a nationwide installation to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.

Jeremy Deller's We're Here Because We're Here saw the artist work closely with the National Theatre alongside 27 organisations across the UK, including Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Lyric Theatre Belfast, Manchester Royal Exchange, National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre Wales, Northern Stage, Playhouse Derry-Londonderry, Salisbury Playhouse, Sheffield Theatres and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Deller's installation saw 1500 participants dressed as soldiers from WWI and appearing in unexpected places across cities.

The event ran from 7am to 7pm throughout the day on 1 July, 100 years to the day since the Battle of the Somme. The participants, who were not professional actors but came from a range of professions including a sheep farmer, flight attendant and GCSE student, were a reminder of the 19,240 men who were killed on the first day of the battle.

Deller said: "I wanted to make a contemporary memorial to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, one that moved around the UK with an unpredictability in which the participants took the work directly to the public."

Rufus Norris said: "This work by Jeremy Deller is a truly national piece of theatre and is a powerful way to remember the men who went off to fight 100 years ago. I also hope it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen ties with theatres and communities across the UK."