Children of World War Two

ScreenPLAY

An eight part audio drama about life as a child in Dorset during World War II, inspired by true stories from people in their 90s. The stories are devised and performed by pupils from four Dorset schools under the guidance of a team of writers and artists from Dorset-based arts organisation ScreenPLAY. Schools taking part are St John’s Primary, Weymouth, St Nicholas and St Lawrence’s Primary, Broadwey, St Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown and Bovington Primary Academy. Audio files, scripts and the original aural history recordings are all part of an accession by the Dorset History Centre. Children of WWII is a ScreenPLAY audio production for the Nothe Fort, Weymouth, in partnership with the Weymouth Area Development Trust and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Dorset Council.

Episodes

  1. Songs from the Show

    20/06/2025

    Songs from the Show

    Episode 9 Songs from the Show. Songs and musical interludes from the drama series Children of WWII by four Dorset schools with musicians Kathie Prince, clarinet and Freya Murray, piano

    14 min
  2. Got any Gum Chum?

    19/06/2025

    Got any Gum Chum?

    Episode 8 GOT ANY GUM CHUM? St Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown Mary’s friends ask her to come and meet American soldiers at their camp in the Woods but she knows her parents wouldn’t approve. It’s a clear evening and as they walk up, dozens of planes fly over. Whatever can be going on?

    11 min
  3. Run Rabbit Run

    19/06/2025

    Run Rabbit Run

    Episode 2 RUN RABBIT RUN Bovington Primary Academy When Roy and his sister go with Gramp to Lulworth on the bus, an Army officer fears some of the passengers could be spies.

    11 min
  4. On the Farm

    18/06/2025

    On the Farm

    Episode 7 ON THE FARM Bovington Primary Academy Aunt Sue’s farm, Hollow Ditch is a rural paradise for Roy and his cousin, until they receive news that will change their lives forever.

    10 min
  5. We Ate the Pet Rabbit

    17/06/2025

    We Ate the Pet Rabbit

    Episode 6 WE ATE THE PET RABBIT St Nicholas and St Laurence Primary School, Weymouth Geoff and his friend Dora collect scrap metal to be made into Spitfires. But their efforts take an alarming turn when the children pick up an unexploded incendiary bomb.

    8 min
  6. Bang Get in the Shelter

    15/06/2025

    Bang Get in the Shelter

    Episode 4 BANG GET IN THE SHELTER 12:02m St Nicholas and St Laurence Primary School, Weymouth After a long night trapped in their Anderson shelter Geoff and family are rescued, but what’s happened to Timmy the teddy - and where is Young Geoffrey?

    12 min
  7. A Special Dinner

    14/06/2025

    A Special Dinner

    Episode 5 A SPECIAL DINNER St Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown Beatrice and her sisters are going to buy meat for dinner, but if the women in front of them buy the last of the pork chops what will they cook for tea?

    11 min
  8. Little London Under the Stairs

    14/06/2025

    Little London Under the Stairs

    Episode 3 Little London Under the Stairs St John’s Primary School, Weymouth From an attic skylight Jean’s parents spot a group of enemy planes flying over the channel. They couldn’t be coming to bomb Weymouth - could they?

    10 min
  9. School Closed until Further Notice

    11/06/2025

    School Closed until Further Notice

    Episode 1 SCHOOL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE St John’s Primary School, Weymouth Jean and her sister are walking to school with evacuees Len and Rob but there’s a sign on the gate: “Closed until further notice” and men in her class speaking a foreign language. What’s going on?

    11 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

An eight part audio drama about life as a child in Dorset during World War II, inspired by true stories from people in their 90s. The stories are devised and performed by pupils from four Dorset schools under the guidance of a team of writers and artists from Dorset-based arts organisation ScreenPLAY. Schools taking part are St John’s Primary, Weymouth, St Nicholas and St Lawrence’s Primary, Broadwey, St Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown and Bovington Primary Academy. Audio files, scripts and the original aural history recordings are all part of an accession by the Dorset History Centre. Children of WWII is a ScreenPLAY audio production for the Nothe Fort, Weymouth, in partnership with the Weymouth Area Development Trust and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Dorset Council.

Information