SHOWING the human side of war, Tales of a Long Conflict - Stories from the Somme, is an hour long play consisting of seven stories, focusing on people’s relationships and the impact of war on people from all walks of life.

Premiered at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre, on Wednesday, November 2 (1.30pm), the play is inspired by real life stories from the Battle of the Somme, and put together by acclaimed Prism Arts Studio Theatre, a diverse theatre company based in Carlisle, whose members have a range of disabilities.

Studio Theatre was established in 2012 by Prism Arts, an inclusive arts charity which runs a range of arts projects across the county.

Tales of a Long Conflict is its fourth production, created and developed by its members, and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The story is told using a mixture of shadow puppetry, projection, spoken word and music from the period.

Production research included visits to local war museums, The Devil’s Porridge, Gretna and Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, at Carlisle.

Learning about the conditions of war, handling objects from the First World War and reading letters from the front line has added real depth and value to each of the stories explored in the production. Following themes of love, loss, hope and hopelessness the result is a moving production, based on the men of the Border Regiment and their families.

With the help of Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, some Prism members have discovered personal connections to the war.

Vicki Maxfield, of Carlisle, was able to uncover the story of her great-grandfather-in-law, and even found a photograph of him as a soldier in the archives held by the museum.

As well as the Brewery performance, the production is touring the county, playing Keswick's Theatre by the Lake, on Friday, November 18, and The Old Fire Station, at Carlisle, on Monday, November 28.

Box office 01539-725133.

For further information visit www.prismarts.org.uk.