ESSEX University has been awarded a grant of £7,700 to fund a new project to depict the personal stories of people who grew up during the First World War.

The project, paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is called Voices of the Great War Past and Present and will see young people learn about the war and create theatre performances based on true stories.

Its aim is to make a connection between youngsters today and young people a century ago.

The project will see university students and members of the Lakeside Theatre’s Youth Theatre and Young Company speaking words directly from interviews carried out by the university's Prof Michael Roper with people recalling their childhoods during the First World War and its aftermath.

Lakeside Theatre director Barbara Peirson said: "This funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund will allow us to create totally unique performances which will connect the performers and the audience with the continuing legacy of the First World War.

"Our pilot workshops at the Lakeside were incredible and had a profound impact on everyone involved.

"The young performers felt they had a direct, emotional connection to people of their own age from a century ago through the words they were hearing and then speaking."

Prof Roper added: "As researchers we are looking forward to having the chance to watch these interviews from a different perspective, which brings alive and makes us think again about the First World War’s emotional and psychological legacy for families."

The performances will take place at 7.30pm on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25.