THOUSANDS of people immersed themselves in the First World World for a theatre's first-of-its-kind production.

Almost 5,000 people went on the war-themed walkthrough experience at the Gala Theatre in Durham City.

More than 300 performances of 1916: No Turning Back took place over 39 days.

The show was part of Durham Remembers, a series of commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, which also includes the Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front exhibition at Palace Green Library and the premiere of the Durham Hymns at Durham Cathedral.

The theatre is about to show The Fighting Bradfords, its first in-house drama production for a number of years, which starts on Thursday, September 8 and runs until Saturday, September 17.

Drawing on first-hand accounts, correspondence and family anecdotes it tells the stories of the four brothers from Witton Park, near Bishop Auckland, who went to war and became both local and national heroes, with two Victoria Crosses, a Distinguished Service Order and a Military Cross between them.

Robin Byers, Durham County Council’s manager for place and experience, said: "This story is part of the history and heritage of our region, and we feel really privileged to be able to tell it through our own production.”

Tickets are priced from £12 to £15, and are available by calling 03000-266-600, visiting the Gala Theatre in person or online at www.galadurham.co.uk