Cirrus@Austlit

'Australians involved in the first World War could only communicate via letters when seeking news of their missing or injured loved ones on the front. These letters were sent to the Red Cross Information Bureau and the collection kept at the State Library of South Australia. The correspondence, coordinated by the Bureau, included accounts from military commanders, medical staff, volunteers, soldiers, and mates who fought alongside those lost or wounded.

'Based upon the collections held at the State Library of South Australia, 'The Red Cross Letters' is a performed reading of a selection of these letters sent to the South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau.

''The Red Cross Letters' evolved from an ongoing project involving the digitisation of 8000 enquiries made to the Bureau during ,WWI by relatives including parents, wives and sisters. It's part of a major commitment by the Library to digitise many South Australian WWI records and photographs for the Centenary of the War

'The performance will be based around 20 selected enquiry letters and the replies, assembled and edited by Playwright Verity Laughton, and directed by Geordie Brookman from the State Theatre Company. It will feature a cast of Adelaide's best actors, as well as a live score performed by Matthew Gregan.' (Source: Library of South Australia newsletter, August 2013)