The Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour arrives in Worcester in June

On Saturday 17 June at 7.30pm The Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour arrives at Worcester Cathedral. The screening will be accompanied by composer Laura Rossi’s live soundtrack performed by the British Police Symphony Orchestra.

The event in Worcester is one of the last dates on The Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour. Composer Laura Rossi and Dr Toby Haggith, Senior Curator at The Imperial War Museum (IWM) will give pre-performance talks about the battle and the musical score.

Somme100 FILM is an international project, working with the International War Museum, as part of the First World War Centenary Partnership to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The project has brought together 100 live orchestral performances of the iconic 1916 film The Battle of the Somme with composer Laura Rossi’s acclaimed score, all performed within the anniversary year of the Battle.

Shot and screened in 1916, The Battle of the Somme was the first feature length documentary about war and changed the way both cinema and film was perceived by the public. It was made by British official cinematographers Geoffrey Malins and John McDowell. In the year of its release around 20 million people, almost half the population of Britain at the time, watched The Battle of the Somme many hoping to see the image of a loved-one, or friend captured on film.

Paul West, former Chief Constable of West Mercia Police and a member of the British Police Symphony Orchestra said: “To be part of such an incredible commemorative project as The Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour is a huge honour for the British Police Symphony Orchestra and we are working hard to ensure our Orchestra does justice to Laura Rossi’s incredibly moving score. We look forward to playing our part in remembering the sacrifice of those who gave their lives during not only the Battle of the Somme but the whole of World War One.”

Dr Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire World War One Hundred Project Manager said: “The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles in human history lasting 141 days with more than one million men wounded or killed. The Worcestershire Regiment played its part and the Regiment lost over 1000 men with a further 362 Worcestershire men killed from a range of other regiments and units.

“The Battle of the Somme film was hugely significant for those at home at the time of its release and has proved no less significant 100 years later. The event at Worcester Cathedral will be an exceptional moment as part of our County-wide commemorative programme as we remember those who gave their lives at the Battle of the Somme.”

Tickets cost £20 & £15 and are available from Worcester Live 01905 611427 with all proceeds going to The Royal British Legion, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity www.worcesterlive.co.uk

For more information on The Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour visit www.somme100film.com