A THEATRE group will be presenting a moving production of a wartime story.

Eastern Angles will put on Somewhere in England at Purleigh Village Hall later this month.

The production, written by Polly Wiseman and directed by Gari Jones, tells the story of the arrival of thousands of American GIs from the 8th US Army Air Force during the Second World War.

Nylons, Hershey bars and jitterbugging to swing bands in the local village hall all feature.

But the show also tells of the other side of the piece of shared history –a tale of segregation and rural communities turned upside down.

Kids are forced to grow up before their time, friendships are forged and then thrown apart and outsiders must learn to live among the locals.

The production ultimately tells the important story of how the eastern region was physically and socially affected by the arrival of our friends from across the pond.

Somewhere in England is part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Eighth In The East project, which aims to explore the story of the air force in East Anglia which is described as one of the most remarkable in military history.

More than 70 years on and with the majority of witnesses to the social and landscape change passing away, the project hopes to keep the stories and history alive.

Somewhere in England will be performed on March 18 from 7.30pm at Purleigh Village Hall.

Tickets cost £10. For more information, call 01621 850739 or 01621 828119.