On Sun 19 October we held a free event to explore the legacy of VE Day and what freedom means to us now.
An afternoon of creativity and community filled Lawrence Batley Theatre as local artists and groups took to our stage to explore the theme of freedom, 80 years after the Second World War. We were joined by the groups Sikh Soldier Organisation, Ukrainian British Friendship Group, IASK (Immigration and Asylum Support Kirklees) and 6 million+ who, together with local artists, created art and performances inspired by Simon Armitage’s poem Freedom Road. They also drew from their own experiences, culture and heritage to look at what freedom means now in 2025.
The performances began with The Sikh Soldier Organisation taking to our stage to give an impassioned reading, alongside our community ambassador Hardeep Sahota, who had worked with the group to create 5 hanging banners under the title of The Golden Thread of Seva. These beautifully detailed banners told the legacy of the Sikh Soldiers, not just on the battlefield of World War II, but also on building the foundations of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Springwood, the first purpose-built Sikh temple of its kind in the UK. Interweaving between the other group performances, Hardeep read poems for each of the banners, mixing history and personal experience to give a rich and heartfelt picture of the Sikh community.
Second on the line-up was 6 million+ who worked with artist Anthony Haddon, African refugees and local people on a piece entitled Freedom Desert. In this collaborative performance using poetry, theatre and imagery of the desert, the group linked present day East African experiences with the almost forgotten East African campaign of World War II. Each member of the group spoke about what freedom means and if this had changed between now and 1940.
This was followed by IASK and artist Rob Crisp, who delivered a creative and improvised musical performance, titled Our Freedom. Our main house was filled with a glorious and diverse range of instruments that took elements of Simon Armitage’s poem and created their own, unique interpretation of the source material. The group, which included musicians from Iran and Nigeria, particularly enjoyed the poem line about potatoes and created a collective soundscape around this versatile vegetable.
Our final performance came from our residents the Ukrainian British Friendship Group who worked with artist Natalia Mirkun on a movement and dance piece titled We were. We are. We will be. Our stage came alive with children and adults from the group giving a spirited performance that was moving, poignant but also joyous. Sharing Ukrainian traditions, the effect of the war on the country and the hopes for future generations, the Ukrainian British Friendship Group embodied the need to reflect on freedom and ensure it is something that everyone should be able to experience.
After the performances we enjoyed a shared feast of a variety of cuisines over warm conversations about the event and celebrating all of those who took part and who took to our stage.
Jenny Goodman, our Head of Participation at Lawrence Batley Theatre said
“What a special event! We were delighted to see the Our Freedom project come together on our Main Stage. The performances were all moving, thought-provoking and joyful and it was brilliant to see such a large and diverse audience. At Lawrence Batley Theatre we pride ourselves on offering a creative home to people who rarely get the opportunity to tell their stories and share those stories in a professional theatre – Our Freedom achieved that beyond anything we could have dreamed.”
The event was a culmination of our involvement in Freedom Then and Now, a national creative programme marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Supported by the UK Government through Arts Council England, the Future Arts Centres and Libraries Connected, the initiative has seen 60 arts centres and libraries across Britain present community-led projects exploring the legacy of VE Day.
