The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has unveiled a programme of activities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day this May.
The initiative will include four days of events and celebrations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.
A range of additional activities have been announced to engage people of all ages with wartime stories.
These include a new National Theatre film, a public call for wartime letters, immersive experiences and educational resources for schools across the country.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has unveiled a programme of activities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day this May
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The programme aims to preserve the memory of those who served and sacrificed during the conflict.
The National Theatre will release a new ten-minute film titled 'The Next Morning' to mark the anniversary on 8 May 2025.
Written by multi-award-winning playwright James Graham, creator of the Olivier Award-winning 'Dear England', the film will focus on young people's hopes and ambitions after the Second World War.
The production will draw inspiration from archive materials to reflect the aspirations of youth in 1945 and their relevance today.
Graham described the project as "genuinely honoured and excited" to be involved, noting themes of "identity, hope, and national togetherness" that celebrate "our capacity for rebirth, and renewal."
Imperial War Museums has launched a 'Letters to Loved Ones' campaign, encouraging schoolchildren to explore their family history.
The initiative asks the public to discover letters sent by ancestors and relatives during the Second World War.
These could include correspondence from soldiers on the front line, people on the home front, or relatives from British Empire and Commonwealth countries.
Selected letters submitted by the public will feature in a special VE Day event at IWM North on May 7.
Those wishing to have their family story included can share letters on the Government's VE/VJ Day website before April 14.
A national programme of educational resources is being launched for primary and secondary schools across the UK.
The Royal British Legion will provide downloadable materials to help teachers plan VE Day activities.
This includes a special film entitled 'I'll Remember: Discovering the stories of VE and VJ Day 80' featuring veterans' reflections.
A digital time capsule of veterans' stories will be created, intended to be opened in 2105.
BAFTA award-winning musician Simon Haw MBE has composed a song, 'I'll Remember', for pupils to sing during school assemblies.
Imperial War Museums will share letters, sound testimony, film and photographs with schools nationwide.
An immersive augmented reality experience will allow the public to engage with iconic VE Day images brought to life.
Launching in April, Atlantic Productions will create an AR experience featuring colourised images enhanced with voices of those who lived through the events.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will run more than 150 mobile exhibitions across the UK and global commemorative sites.
The touring exhibitions will highlight stories of Second World War combatants.
At the heart of the tour will be the Torch of Peace, serving as an enduring symbol honouring individual contributions and as a baton for sharing stories with future generations.
