Life on the home front in World War Two Dorset is vividly brought to life in a new series of audio dramas by children from four schools working with arts organisation ScreenPLAY. Children of WWII, made with funding from Dorset Council and the Heritage Lottery, tells the stories of families in Weymouth, Puddletown, Wool, Lulworth and the Tynham Valley from the summer of 1940 to 1944. The series is a ScreenPLAY and Weymouth Area Development Trust co-production for Nothe Fort.

Project co-director Alastair Nisbet explained: “These are both ordinary and extraordinary stories from everyday life 80 years ago. The children have worked with our scriptwriters and drama directors and turned true stories from local people into dramas complete with sound effects, music and songs of the day.”

In the month following their launch in May, 2200 episodes of the dramas have already been listened to online. To listen, pick up a postcard at public libraries, Nothe Fort or Dorset History Centre, scan the QR code and click play. Alternatively go to screen-play.co.uk and click one of the header images. ScreenPLAY’s dedicated audio player makes it easy to play, pause, rewind or scroll on to the next episode.

Episodes are also being broadcast across Dorset on Keep106FM at 3.40pm on Monday afternoons and on the Keep website’s listen again page. For more information about Portland & Weymouth Towns of Culture 2025, visit https://www.portlandweymouthculture.com/