Christmas in the Trenches: A Play Reading

Name: Christmas in the Trenches: A Play Reading
Start: 2024-12-21T18:30:00-05:00
End: 2024-12-21T20:00:00-05:00
Location: 40 Main Street, Freeport, ME, United States, Maine 04032

Schedule

Sat Dec 21 2024 at 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

40 Main Street, Freeport, ME, United States, Maine 04032 | Freeport, ME

Christmas in the Trenches:
A Play Reading & Holiday Community Sing
In these challenging times, when war and deprivation are inflicted on families around the world, we all witness and experience the suffering and wonder why?
We join together in this performance & holiday community sing to remember that peace and communion are still and always in the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens everywhere.
Directed by Nat Warren-White, “Christmas in the Trenches” will feature the true story of The Christmas Truce of 1914, including letters from soldiers that experienced it first hand. Live music will accompany both performances.
Tickets are on sale now: $20 Adult, $10 Student, FREE for ages 12 & under and FREE for Veterans, active-duty military.
Dec 14th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-in-the-trenches-a-play-reading-tickets-1083103003239?aff=oddtdtcreator
Dec 21st: https://meetinghousearts.org/event/christmas-in-the-trenches-a-play-reading-night-two/
What is the Christmas Truce?
In 1914, amid the brutal chaos of World War I, something extraordinary unfolded on Christmas Eve-–an event that would become a symbol of humanity, compassion, and hope.
On December 24th, 1914, British soldiers huddled in their trenches on the Western Front, when suddenly, they heard the haunting sound of German troops across no-man's land singing carols and holiday songs. Lanterns twinkled in the trenches, and small fir trees brought a touch of festive cheer to the battlefield. Gradually, voices were heard calling out across the divide, and messages were exchanged between enemies: A fragile spark of humanity amid the horrors of war.
Then, on Christmas Day, something even more remarkable happened. Though cautious, soldiers from both sides began to peek from the trenches and emerged into no-man’s land, putting aside their rifles to exchange gifts, share food, and capture this rare moment of peace with photographs taken by the soldiers themselves. The famous sight of British and German soldiers playing football in the middle of the battlefield is not just a legend – it really happened.
More than just a moment in history, the Christmas Truce of 1914 is a testament to the enduring power of shared humanity, even in the darkest of times.
Many thanks to the Freeport Rotary Club for donating a Christmas tree for the show from their fundraising sale at the Freeport fire station.