In 2013 three well known members of Westacre Theatre Company – Irma Fowler, Lesley Mardle and Leah Spencer – decided to perform poetry and prose in aid of charity. And that’s how Three’s Company was born.

Wisbech Standard: ‘Momentous Times’ is a dramatic presentation of the extraordinary experiences of five women in Europe during World War One.‘Momentous Times’ is a dramatic presentation of the extraordinary experiences of five women in Europe during World War One. (Image: Archant)

Retired, but certainly not retiring, they threw themselves into their new project, keen to promote poetry and prose to audiences in churches, village halls and other small scale venues.

Five years and 12 anthologies later, with a schedule taking them from Wisbech in the West to Easton in the East, the group has raised over £2,500 for their chosen charity Wateraid.

They have also supported other charity groups in their fundraising efforts including performing their anthology ‘All You Need Is Love’ for the Swaffham based Macmillan fundraising committee.

“We love to entertain audiences and introduce them to poets and authors, or perhaps remind them of writers they have long forgotten,” said spokeswoman Leah Spencer.

“We are currently working on a new anthology for Westacre Theatre’s Literary Festival. ‘Brecks to Broads’ will take the audience on a literary tour of Norfolk from David Copperfield on the beach at Yarmouth to whaling ships sailing from King’s Lynn. It promises to be an exciting journey.”

In 2014 the group brought a new project to fruition with ‘Momentous Times’. This piece draws on the journals and diaries of five very different women who lived during World War One.

The piece is based on the book ‘The Beauty and the Sorrow’ by Peter Englund, who gave his permission for the group to adapt sections of the book and perform it in aid of the Red Cross.

Over £1,000 has been raised so far. For this piece the group has grown to a cast of six. There will be several performances of ‘Momentous Times’ during the year.

What links a German schoolgirl, an American opera singer, a Scottish charity worker, an English governess in Moscow and the third woman to climb Popocatepetl? - ‘Momentous Times’.

This is a dramatic presentation of the extraordinary experiences of five women in Europe during World War One.

Stories from their personal diaries and journals, tell us about their lives from 1914 – 1918.

Running time is approximately 1hr 10 minutes and all profits will go to the British Red Cross.

The next performance is in St. Peter’s Church, Wisbech, on

Tickets cost £5 on the door or can be booked in advance by calling 01945 461397.

The last performance is a matinee at Westacre Theatre on Armisitice Day November 11.