THE impact of war on people’s lives is examined during a stunning piece of dance theatre coming to a Hampshire venue next week.

Two soldiers serve in wars, 100 years and more than 3,000 miles apart: the Belgian battlefields of the Great War and the streets of present day Afghanistan.

The very different experiences of the two are brought together for a moving aerial dance performance Rites of War at The Point, Eastleigh.

Lindsey Butcher, artistic director of aerial dance company Gravity & Levity has collaborated with acclaimed choreographer Darshan Singh Bhuller and BBC war reporter David Loyn to tell the story of the impact on war on the lives of ordinary men and women through beautifully crafted choreography – both on the stage and in the air.

David, who is based in Kabul as the BBC’s Afghanistan correspondent and who bought burqas in the bazaar there for the performance, said: “I remain in awe of the ability of dancers to tell stories through movement to touch people in ways that news reporting cannot.

“This is not a ballet, it’s a muscular piece of theatre. It opens with a soldier in a landmine explosion being slammed against the wall at the back of the stage.”

A cast of six aerialists and dancers combine their rich visual language with music, film projections and news commentary to reveal the ugly truths and unexpected beauty of living and loving through conflicts, then and now, as they perform on a six metre high climbing wall.

Rites of War also brings together an impressive team of creative collaborators and advisors including The Imperial War Museum to create a visceral and emotive production for audiences reflecting on how war shapes all of our lives.

David, added: “One of the things that draws reporters to war zones is witnessing people tested to their limits. But news reporting does not tell the whole story of the impact of conflict on ‘ordinary’ people.

“The war that began in 1914 was once described as the ‘war to end all wars’ but of course it did not turn out that way. A century later as Britain withdraws from Afghanistan Rites of War joins the ritual of remembrance.”

The performance takes place on November 14 and 15 at 7.30pm.

David will be at The Point for the November 14 performance to discuss his involvement in the project prior to the show from 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start.

Tickets are £12 and £10 for concessions and can be booked by visiting thepointeastleigh.co.uk or by calling the box office on 023 8065 2333.