Hundreds of red poppy leaves made by schoolchildren from the Great Yarmouth area will cascade from the ceiling of the town’s Hippodrome Circus at a Festival of Remembrance on Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the First World War.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The life of Edith Cavell will be celebrated Picture: Imperial War MuseumsThe life of Edith Cavell will be celebrated Picture: Imperial War Museums (Image: Imperial War Museums)

The festival, which starts at 4.30pm on November 11, will have a full youth orchestra, the Orchestrate! Project, singers and members of the Dance Estelle school along with the Winterton Marine Cadets.

It will also pay tribute to the centenary of the RAF and to the First World War Norfolk heroine nurse Edith Cavell.

The Great Yarmouth Festival of Remembrance started at St George’s Theatre in 2014 to mark the beginning of the First World War.

This year sees it move to Remembrance Sunday and the Hippodrome to become a county event with the mayor of the borough, Mary Coleman, joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Richard Jewson.

Laura Goodman, the borough council’s civic events manager, said: “It was always our hope that we could mark this special date at the Hippodrome where we can accommodate a much larger audience, cast and commemorate with the whole county.

“This famous venue has been described as East Anglia’s mini Royal Albert Hall so it is fitting we can stage on our doorstep something like the national Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance with its poppies fluttering down during the two minutes silence.’

“I am so pleased we have got so many youngsters involved in what will be a very memorable and moving event.’

Former BBC Radio Norfolk broadcaster Tony Mallion is hosting and directing the event working together with Mrs Goodman, choreographer Estelle Clifton and musical director John Stephens whose Orchestrate! Project orchestra will play a leading role. The Winterton Cadets will once again build the drum head altar for the remembrance service and the two minutes silence will led by the mayor’s chaplain, Rev Albert Cadmore.

Mr Mallion said: “I am pleased that we can also highlight Edith Cavell who will be played by local actress Judi Daykin who will bring us an excerpt from her very moving one woman show about the much honoured First World War nurse.”

Tickets cost £10 from the Hippodrome Box Office on 01493 844172 or www.hippodromecircus.co.uk