Phoenix Dance Theatre join Choir to Honour WW1 on Salford Quays, 2 August

One of the largest outdoor remembrance events – Honour takes place this weekend at Salford Quays.

This multi-disciplinary, free outdoor performance, is on The Quays at MediaCityUK this Saturday 2 August 2014, promises to immerse audiences in the memories of the First World War.

Specially created by acclaimed composer Andy Smith and conducted by renowned Choral Director, Jeff Borradaile, the commemorative anthem, which draws inspiration from poets of the era, will recall the unbreakable spirit of the troops and the loved ones left behind.

The vocal performance forms the centrepiece of Honour following a series of newly commissioned pieces of music, animation, contemporary dance and theatre inspired by First World War poets and the memories of men and women from the North West affected by the conflict of 1914 to 1919.

As well as hearing the sound of hundreds of voices in unison, the audience will be led step-by-step through the experience of war. From young men signing up to serve in battle, to the feeling of claustrophobic damp in the trenches, the fears of the families left behind and the fear of going over the top. Fireworks will transport audiences from the tranquillity of peacetime to the battlefields of the Western Front to remember the millions of military and civilians lives lost.

Using MediaCity buildings as a giant projector screen, artists including Artistic Director, Craig Morrison, German duo Hartung Trenz, Wales-based animator Sean Vicary have been invited to use carefully curated imagery to tell the story in a way which engages people of all ages. Sharon Watson of Phoenix Dance Theatre brings physical performance to assist the storytelling, siting dancers on plinths within the audience. Theatre In The Quarter will intersperse the visual elements with excerpts of audio drama, relaying the experiences of the region’s dockworkers enlisted to serve in battle.

Delving into the archives of IWM North (part of the Imperial War Museums), the stories and images narrated during Honour will be revived after a century has passed. The museum itself will be open late on the evening of the performance, giving audiences the opportunity to explore the story of the Great War further.

Everyone is welcome to attend, although parents should note that some battle scenes may upset very young children. Strobe lighting and lightning strikes will be used during the performance.

Honour is the latest in a series of major, outdoor events to take place at the waterside location following the success of NVA’s Speed of Light and Waterfools in 2013.

Honour starts at 10pm and is approximately 45 minutes long.