The film inspired by Catterick Garrison’s Military WAGS Choir will go on general release on Friday with the choir marking the launch by singing at a red carpet event at the Empire Cinema.
Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Hogan, Military Wives is based on the true story of how Catterick’s WAGS Choir was formed during the war in Afghanistan and went on to become the phenomenon it is today.
The WAGS Choir in Catterick embraces services’ wives, affiliates, girlfriends and servicewomen, and it was the first and original Military Wives Choir.
In early 2010, military wives Nicky Clarke and Caroline Jopp approached local choir leader Carol Gedye with the idea of starting up a new choir in the area.
The thought was to give those left at home a focus and a support group to keep spirits high with fun and friendship.
While choirmaster Gareth Malone did wonders for raising the profile of the Military Wives Choirs after setting up two choirs in the TV series The Choir: Military Wives which triggered many other groups across the UK, Catterick WAGS created the concept.
Members from the Military Wives Choir family across the country headed to London in January to record some soundtracks from the film.
Ten choir members from the Catterick WAGS volunteered to take part and spent Christmas learning their parts.
Jane Scott, a teacher at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, was chosen to introduce the trailer to the soundtrack to talk about her experiences in the choir and what it means to her.
Jane said: “It was such a privilege to be asked to open the trailer and acknowledge the enormity of what these choirs mean to so many people.”
A further nine WAGS choir members were invited to attend and perform at the recent London premiere, together with Carol Gedye, the original WAGS musical director, who picked up the baton and led the choir from its inception until last year.
The choir sung in front of the director, the cast, Gareth Malone, Lorraine Kelly and other celebrities.
To pay tribute to the contribution that the Catterick WAGS Choir have made there will be a red carpet event on opening night of the Military Wives film on Friday, March 6 at the Empire Cinema in Catterick Garrison.
The WAGS will perform music from their repertoire from 6.45pm to 7.45pm, followed by the film being screened at 8pm.
Tickets are available from www.catterick.empirecinemas.co.uk
Th film will also be screened at The Station Cinema in Richmond.
For more details click here.
