1940s Day

Join us for a full day of free family activities to celebrate the launch of our brand-new exhibition: World War 2: Communication, Clothing & Campaigns.

Enjoy free theatre performances, interactive workshops, real object handling, 1940s dress-up photo opportunities and more!

Overview

• Date & Time: Tuesday 18 August, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3:30pm)
• Cost: free admission (optional crafts £2.50)
• Ages: perfect for families of all ages
• Booking: no booking required, just drop in!

Free Theatre: The Bombardiers

Tally ho and chocks away!  Three courageous airmen, Roger, Reggie and Rupert are returning from battle when their trusty aeroplane is caught in a freak storm.   The daring heroes bravely leap from the craft and find themselves hurled far and wide.

Armed only with their wits and extremely good looks, who knows where they’ll end up, what adventures they’ll find and if they’ll ever be reunited…

Fun, wacky and full of mischief and laughter, The Bombardiers is just perfect for children and families who enjoy live performance, lots of interaction, mime and theatre!

• The Bombardiers will perform at: 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm. Each performance is 30 minutes.

WW2 Pop-Up Workshops

Join CB Performing Arts for 20-minute interactive sessions exploring song, dance, storytelling and street games.

• 10:30am & 1:30pm: Storytelling
  Listen to family-friendly tales of evacuees, courage, and wartime adventure.
• 11am & 2pm: Dance
  Step back into the 1940s and learn the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and Boogie Woogie.
• 11:30am & 2:30pm: Sing-Along
  Sing along to 1940s classics, concluding with a rendition of We’ll Meet Again.
• 12pm & 3pm: Street Games
  Try traditional games like hopscotch, Grandma’s Footsteps and Pick-Up Sticks.

All-Day Activities & Crafts

As well as our themed workshops, you can enjoy the following activities throughout the day, between 10am and 4pm.

• Free Interactive Fun: try on 1940s outfits at our dress-up photo station, handle real historical objects and have a go at our rationing activities.
• Optional Paid Crafts (£2.50 per participant): create your own souvenir with our ‘Make Do and Mend’ medal-making and ‘Make Your Own Gas Mask’ crafts. Both craft sessions are included in the price.

Don’t forget to visit the new ‘World War 2: Communication, Clothing & Campaigns’ exhibition! Created by students from Northern School of Art and Beech Grove Primary School, the exhibition explores 1940s clothing, make do and mend, film, textiles, news and propaganda.