YMCA Shakespeare Hut, corner of Gower Street and Keppel Street in 1918. Photo: George P Lewis © IWM (Q 28740).

An exhibition about the little known story about the YMCA Shakespeare Hut, a building opened on the side of the current London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1916 to house and entertain troops on leave during WWI. 

People are invited to bring family photos from the First World War (or any relevant artefacts such as letters, etc) and to tell the researchers stories that they may have about their parents or grandparents’ experiences during WWI, either from the Front or the Home Front.

“The main thing we would love to achieve from the session is to find residents with family stories about WWI that we could then record as part of the wider project,” says Alison Ramsey from Digital Drama who is working with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in Keppel Street.

“We will bring some photographs and will play out audio recordings concerning the Shakespeare Hut project to talk to people about it.”

This is a free event and anyone who is interested in WW1 history or local history is welcome to drop-in and view the exhibition.

Researching the Shakespeare Hut — 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 22 June 2016 at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX. Free event. More information: Resurrecting Shakespeare and memories of the First World War in London.