The Next Morning - teaching Second World War stories to mark VE Day

As part of the Government’s events and celebrations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we have released a new film, The Next Morning, exploring how memories of the Second World War are passed down through generations, asking what the end of the war means in a world shaped by its aftermath.

The film is accompanied by a downloadable resource and a year-long Schools Engagement programme responding to the events of VE and VJ Day and this significant period of the UK’s history.

The schools engagement programme for Key Stages 3 and 4 will be delivered as part of a nationwide tour of Dear England. Inspired by Gareth Southgate’s open letter to England fans in 2021, this creative project will collect and share the hopes that young people have for themselves and for young people in 2105, 80 years from now.

The Next Morning is a short film by Olivier Award-winning writer James Graham, featuring Julian Glover, Siân Phillips, and Joseph Mydell.

Directed by Alice Wordsworth and produced by Emma Hall, the film interweaves three stories of children uncovering personal reflections from the day peace was declared in Europe in 1945.

Set in contemporary Britain as a wartime time capsule is uncovered in an allotment, a granddaughter discovers a diary in the attic, and a grandson reads an unsent letter to a father lost in the war, memories of VE Day resonate with new meaning. A new generation listens, reads, and remembers as the echoes of history come alive through diaries, keepsakes, and family stories — culminating in a new time capsule buried for the future.

This written resource provides creative responses for teachers around the 80th anniversary of VE day, alongside an exploration of relevant themes in the National Theatre’s 2025 touring production of Dear England.

It responds directly to James Graham’s film, The Next Morning. The pack aids discussion around important themes: identity, legacy, Britishness, resilience and community, and can be used to support the History, Drama, English and PSHE curriculum. It also offers ideas on how students can commemorate and celebrate VE day, and create their own time capsule or record of hopes, dreams and aspirations for the next 80 years.

Download resource

Learning outcomes

This resource will support students’ understanding of VE day and its legacy, alongside creative theatrical responses to historical events. It can be used as part of GCSE and A level Drama lessons, in addition to the discussion of challenging themes as part of History, English or PSHE curriculums.

The National Theatre will also run a year-long schools engagement programme responding to the events of VE and VJ Day and this significant period of the UK’s history. Starting in September 2025, the programme for Key Stages 3 and 4 will be delivered as part of a nationwide tour of the Oliver Award-winning play, Dear England, which will tour to 16 venues across England, in a co-production with JAS Theatricals.

Inspired by Gareth Southgate’s ‘Dear England’ open letter that he wrote to England fans in 2021, the schools programme will deliver assemblies and workshops using spoken word, and sound design, supporting students to share the hopes and aspirations that they have for themselves and other young people 80 years’ from now.

Students will also be invited to see performances of Dear England during the tour. Speak to your nearest venue to discuss opportunities for school group bookings and accompanying learning activities.

Find a venue near you

Suitability

Reference to war, grief and displacement.

Keywords

Dear England, The Next Morning, VE Day, GCSE, A Level, Drama, PSHE, History, English