# Event Details - **Event Name**: Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 07:00 pm – Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 09:30 pm (+01:00) - **Event Description**: A special evening of readings of real-life accounts by esteemed actors and discussion with Author John Willis as we commemorate VE DayAbout this EventJoin us at Theatreship for a special evening of live readings and discussion as we commemorate VE Day, honouring those who safely returned, remembering the immense sacrifices made at home and abroad, and recognising those who were still fighting in the Far East until VJ Day.Theatreship, London's Docklands' distinctive independent arts venue, is honoured to welcome back acclaimed author and historian John Willis. Through compelling live readings of real-life accounts, we will explore the untold stories of everyday bravery, terror, and life-affirming community that defined the Second World War.The evening will feature gripping excerpts from Willis's acclaimed books, The People's War and Nagasaki: The Forgotten Prisoners, bridging the gap between the relief of victory in Europe and the harrowing, enduring struggles in the Pacific.These extraordinary, real-life accounts will be brought vividly to the stage by a stellar cast of performers. The evening features Christine Kavanagh, who recently starred in Netflix's The Diplomat and on stage in An Inspector Calls and serves as the lead voice actor on the Penguin audiobook of The People's War. Joining her is the highly accomplished Simon Thorp, whose screen credits include The Diplomat and Killing Eve, alongside Tilly Thorp, a versatile director, writer, and theatre-maker known for her work on Gangs of London and The Fall Of The House Of Usher. And esteemed actress Emma Cater (Profile, winner Berlinale Audience Award, C.B. Strike, BBC adaptation of J.K. Rowling's detective series).More about the Author and selected works:In the early 2000s, the BBC launched its biggest oral history project, recording the lives and experiences of ordinary people who lived through the war. Compiling 47,000 testimonies and over 400 diaries and letters, these archives remained largely unexplored for twenty years.In The People's War, Willis brings these voices into the light, guiding us through the experiences of evacuees, nurses and soldiers, amongst many others. To honour those who fought until the very end of the conflict, readings from Nagasaki: The Forgotten Prisoners will illuminate the harrowing but also remarkable survival stories of prisoners of war in East Asia, providing a truly comprehensive journey through a devastating and pivotal period of our history.John Willis studied history at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. As one of Britain’s best-known television executives, he has held posts as Director of Programmes at Channel 4 and Director of Factual and Learning at the BBC. In 2012, he was elected Chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and is currently Chair of Governors at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. He is also the author of Fighter Boy: The Many Lives of Geoffrey Page, Churchill's Few: The Battle of Britain and Secret Letters: A Battle of Britain Love Story.Signed copies of The People’s War and Nagasaki will be available on the evening.This is a free event but we will appreciate artist supporter tickets._____________________The venue opens at 4pm for drinks in the bar. We advise arriving before 6.30 if you can so everyone can settle in!Theatreship is committed to broadening access to the arts - we know that ticket price is a huge barrier for some. If the regular ticket price is beyond what you feel able to afford for whatever reason, please don't hesitate to email us at tickets@theatreship.co.uk and we will do everything we can to help, no questions asked.We also offer arts supporter tickets, for those that can, to pay a higher price to support the venue, the artists who perform here and subsidised tickets for others.Due to the historic nature of the ship, we’re sorry to say there is not currently step-free access into the theatre space. We have dedicated staff on hand to help with stairs, and an onsite wheelchair once you’re inside the venue. If you have any access needs, please do e-mail us at access@theatreship.co.uk. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/london/voices-of-courage-a-commemoration-of-ve-day-with-author-john-willis/100001985127754552 - **Event Categories**: art, theatre, literary-art, entertainment, performances - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 11.01, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: London - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: Theatreship - **lat**: 51.50077040000001 - **long**: -0.0165739 - **full address**: Theatreship, South Quay, London, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/500d21e4cabe03f7849c3b1e515a3d9189ef33221b9662ed685de1e5dca05196-rimg-w1200-h863-dc606060-gmir.jpg?v=1774453611 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis being held? - **A:** Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis takes place on Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 07:00 pm to Thu, 07 May, 2026 at 09:30 pm at Theatreship, South Quay, London, United Kingdom. - **Q**: How much do tickets cost for Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis? - **A:** Tickets for Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis are priced at GBP 11 per person. Here's a full breakdown of available ticket types:Ticket TypePriceAvailabilityFree TicketsFreeAvailableArts SupporterGBP 6 + GBP 1 feeAvailableArts SupporterGBP 11 + GBP 1 feeAvailable - **Q**: Who is organizing Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis? - **A:** Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis is organized by Theatreship. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in London, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Voices of Courage: A Commemoration of VE Day with Author John Willis", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/500d21e4cabe03f7849c3b1e515a3d9189ef33221b9662ed685de1e5dca05196-rimg-w1200-h863-dc606060-gmir.jpg?v=1774453611", "startDate": "2026-05-07T19:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2026-05-07T21:30:00+01:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/voices-of-courage-a-commemoration-of-ve-day-with-author-john-willis/100001985127754552", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Theatreship", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "South Quay", "postalCode": "E14 9SH", "addressLocality": "London", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "51.50077040000001", "longitude": "-0.0165739" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "A special evening of readings of real-life accounts by esteemed actors and discussion with Author John Willis as we commemorate VE Day", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-03-25", "availabilityEnds": "2026-05-07T21:30:00+01:00", "validFrom": "2026-03-25", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "11.01", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/voices-of-courage-a-commemoration-of-ve-day-with-author-john-willis/100001985127754552" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-03-25", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-03-25", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/voices-of-courage-a-commemoration-of-ve-day-with-author-john-willis/100001985127754552", "price": 0, "name": "Free Tickets" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-03-25", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-03-25", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/voices-of-courage-a-commemoration-of-ve-day-with-author-john-willis/100001985127754552", "price": "5.74", "name": "Arts Supporter" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-03-25", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-03-25", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/voices-of-courage-a-commemoration-of-ve-day-with-author-john-willis/100001985127754552", "price": "11.01", "name": "Arts Supporter" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Theatreship", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/theatreship/23667308", "description": "A new non-profit theatre & cinema on a historic cargo ship in the heart of Canary Wharf" } ] } ] ```