A PLAY based on the lives of two men killed during the First World War will be performed in the chapel where one of the young soldiers was married.

The Gathering - Messages from the Great War will tell the stories of Will Cutler and Hubert Wareham, and two people closely involved in their lives - Will's wife Tillie, and the former vicar of Wimborne Minster, Reverend James Fletcher.

The first performance will take place next month at the Holtwood Methodist Church, where Will and Tillie got married in 1913.

Their granddaughter Liz Frampton resides in the village where her grandparents also once lived.

She said: "I am excited that this performance will give me a tiny glimpse of my grandparents, Will and Tillie, whose life I was not privileged to share.”

Hubert was killed on the first day of Passchendaele at the age of just 19. His parents, Charles and Annie Wareham of Eastbrook - now Park Lane - learned of their son's death more than two weeks later, on August 18 1917.

A picture of him as a child hangs at the Priest's House Museum. In the photo, Hubert is decorated with medals honouring his school attendance.

Alan Wareham, Hubert’s great nephew, said: “We are looking forward to attending the play as it has really brought my Great Uncle Hubert’s story to life and it recognises and honours the great sacrifice that he and others made.”

Writers Gill Horitz and Tony Horitz, of State of Play Arts, said: “The play is based on letters, photographs and stories provided by family members, local historians and museum archives.

"Using them as stimuli, we have dramatised the voices and thoughts of these four people from these remaining fragments of their lives.”

The play, which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has been commissioned by the Priest's House Museum as part of project 'The one hundred year heritage of the First World War for Wimborne and East Dorset'.

Volunteers have undertaken research into how people in East Dorset were affected by the conflict.

James Webb of the Priest's House Museum said: "Family members have come forward with archives and stories, which have proved invaluable.

"The use of theatre has the ability to make these stories accessible to new audiences."

The performance in Holtwood will take place on Sunday, February 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £6 for adults. For information, or to book, call 01202 886116.

Further performances are planned as part of the Wimborne History Festival in July.