This innovative First World War project that will enable local people in the South West to explore the many ways in which families at the time approached the act of remembrance in their homes.
 
The Little Victory Ball is an interactive travelling theatre and museum that will provide an extraordinary experience, capturing a moment in time on the 11th November 1920, the third Armistice Day. This talented theatre troupe will visit schools, village fairs, civic events, care homes and festivals. Participants will be able to view a variety of artefacts made during the war by combatants and souvenir sellers, all of which contributed to domestic remembrance.
 
Objects will include a taffeta mourning dress, pincushions decorated with uniform badges and buttons, as well as such objects as decorated biscuit tins. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view objects made by soldiers at the Front including vases and cups made from spent ammunition shells, letter openers, pen holders, ashtrays, coal scuttles and no end of beautifully crafted household items showing not only the ingenuity of troops on the front line to convert objects of destruction into something of use, but how such items entered the fabric of everyday life after the war.

Sioux How, the creator of The Little Victory Ball, said: “As it becomes more of a distant memory, understanding the impact that the First World War had on those who lived through it becomes more and more difficult. Once the thick red velvet curtains of the stage open you’ll not only learn new facts about the Act of Remembrance in an innovative and engaging way, you’ll be transported into the lives of the ordinary people on the Home Front who lived through an extraordinary time”.
 
Explaining the importance of the HLF support, the head of  HLF South West, Nerys Watts, said: “The stories of First World War are incredibly diverse and this project is a really creative way to explain the importance of the conflict, especially to children and people who may miss out on more traditional Museum exhibits, and what it meant for their town. We have already supported over £47m of projects from across the United Kingdom and will continue to support communities like those who will be involved in ‘The Little Victory Ball’  to explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and help local people broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.”
 
For organisations who book the event, their communities will have a complete First World War commemoration experience that is free to their audience, however large. The group is also offering opportunities for volunteers to be involved in every element of the project – from acting, staging and music to stewarding, museum set-up and research.
 
The project has also received funding from The Western Front Association and Frome Town Council, and is part of the Imperial War Museum’s First World War Centenary Partnership.

Notes to editors
 
About The Little Victory Ball and our funders
The Little Victory Ball is a CIC providing First and Second World War Home Front educational and entertaining theatrical events offering alternative aspects of both wars.  They perform for communities in the South West with the use of a travelling museum and pop-up stage reaching audiences via festivals, village fairs and civic events, as well as schools and care-homes, focusing on those who do not visit or have access to conventional museums.
 
The Little Victory Ball hopes to promote audience discussion on home front memorabilia, and family histories, using interactive experiences.  The scripts used in the performance are based on oral histories and the props and costumes are of authentic quality.  Through social media audiences can add the stories of their families’ home front memories and artefacts.
 
The Western Front Association (WFA)
The WFA was formed with the aim of furthering interest in The Great War of 1914-1918. We also aim to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of all those on all sides who served their countries in France and Flanders and their own countries during The Great War.

Imperial War Museum
The First World War Centenary Partnership is a network of over 2,400 local, regional, national and international cultural and educational organisations led by IWM (Imperial War Museums). Together, we are presenting a vibrant global Programme of cultural events and activities, online resources and digital platforms which will enable millions of people across the world to discover more about life in the First World War.
 
Frome Town Council
Frome Town council has a grants scheme that encourages and funds community-led projects in the local area that help to achieve the Town Council’s aims of making Frome a sustainable and participatory community and economy.

Further information

Contact Sioux How on email: littlevictoryball@gmail.com.