AN emotionally-charged, choir is to perform a specially written piece of music in the largest outdoor remembrance event of its kind this summer.

Honour, a free, outdoor performance, will take place on The Quays at MediaCityUK on Saturday August 2.

It promises to immerse audiences in the memories of the First World War.

Specially created by acclaimed composer Andy Smith and conducted by renowned Choral Director, Jeff Borradaile, the stirring, commemorative anthem, which draws inspiration from poets of the era, will recall the unbreakable spirit of the troops and the loved ones left behind.

Presenting a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the organisers have left the door open for more singers to perform in front of the thousands expected to attend.

Jeff Borradaile said: “This is such a unique opportunity, to be part of a performance that brings together visual, performance and dance elements in this way.

“We’ve already got in excess of 250 singers, but we want to create the biggest choir possible to make The Quays really stir with pride as we reflect on the sacrifices so many ordinary people made.

“People don’t have to be perfect singers, nobody will be asked to sing on their own and everyone is welcome.”

The vocal performance forms the centrepiece of Honour following a series of newly commissioned pieces of music, animation, contemporary dance and theatre inspired by First World War poets and the memories of men and women from the North West affected by the conflict of 1914 to 1919.

To get involved people are asked to visit www.quaysculture.com and register to receive the music, words and rehearsal dates.

As well as hearing the sound of hundreds of voices in unison, the audience will be led step-by-step through the experience of war.

From young men signing up to serve in battle, to the feeling of claustrophobic damp in the trenches, the fears of the families left behind and the fear of going over the top.

A blaze of fireworks will symbolically transport audiences from the tranquillity of peacetime to the battlefields of the Western Front to remember the millions of military and civilians lives lost.

Lucy Dusgate, Programme Manager, Quays Culture says: “The range of contemporary visual and performing artists working on Honour have been carefully chosen to sensitively handle the stories of real people affected by the considerable human cost of the First World War.

"The emotion of hearing hundreds of voices coming together in respectful song will sit side-by-side with texts from Welsh language War Poet, Hedd Wyn and challenging physical performance pieces. This new commission, which is free to attend, brings cutting-edge, outdoor performance to as many people as possible.”

Delving into the archives of IWM North (part of the Imperial War Museums), the stories and images narrated during HONOUR will be revived after a century has passed.

The museum itself will be open late on the evening of the performance, giving audiences the opportunity to explore the story of the Great War further.

Everyone is welcome to experience HONOUR, although parents should note that some battle scenes may upset very young children. Strobe lighting and lightning strikes will be used during the performance.