AN EXCITING sound and vision extravaganza is being lined up for a historic Weymouth attraction.

Audiences are in for a treat as a community play with a difference is staged at the Nothe Fort over four nights later this year.

Son et Lumiere – Sound and Light Spectacular – will combine live action from a myriad local performers with music, and projections that will be beamed on to the walls of the Victorian monument.

Projections and live action will help to tell the story of Weymouth and Portland’s maritime history, from the Spanish Armada to Olympic sailing, culminating with a fireworks finale.

Former Weymouth performing arts student Martine Burt, now an established director and choreographer, is directing while Portland musician and filmmaker Tom Hughes is in charge of visuals. He has been working with historian Stuart Morris to source images.

Numerous groups will help to tell the story on stage including WOW, Weymouth Drama Club, Quay Theatre Arts, Weymouth Choral Society, Julie Storey’s Let’s Dance group and Weymouth Operatic Society.

Son et Lumiere will be the most extravagant event to be held at the Nothe Fort to date.

Chairman and events co-ordinator Jane Chandler said the idea to have a sound and light show was sparked by a panoramic video display called Passing Time shown at the venue as part of the Cultural Olympiad’s b-side festival in 2010.

She said: “It was an amazing event and it led to us coming up with our own idea for a show featuring projections.

“We started talking to WOW about it and Martine Burt was recommended. With her input it gained new heights and developed into a community play with different groups doing their own sections.”

The fort’s location and the influence of the sea on the borough led to a maritime history theme being discussed. Stories about D-Day, the lifeboat, shipwrecks and smugglers, seaside holidays and the Royal Navy at Portland will be recounted though mime while the senses are assaulted by striking visuals and sounds like canon fire, battle cries, sea shanty songs and lapping waves.

The show will be performed from September 10-14 at 8pm.

Tickets priced £18 for adults and £15 for children can be obtained by calling 01305 766626 or visit nothefort.org.uk