The Promise

WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 20 MARCH

Directed by Alan Strachan

Designed by Sam Dowson
Lighting by John Harris

It's the beginning of World War I and Herbert Samuel, the first practising Jew ever to sit in a British Cabinet, dreams of using British power to back a return of the Jews to Palestine after 1800 years. However, his cousin, Edwin Montagu, also in the Cabinet, and also Jewish, is implacably opposed to the idea, a conflict complicated by Montagu's passion for the young beautiful aristocrat, Venetia Stanley, a confidante of the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. As Venetia's developing relationship with Montagu threatens the status quo, personal and political concerns become increasingly tangled.

Politics, religion and love collide with world-changing effect in this new play of political and sexual intrigue, and the origins of Israel.

Brown's Larkin With Women won the TMA Best New Play award in 2000, and was presented at the Orange Tree Theatre in 2006 directed by Alan Strachan with Oliver Ford Davies as Larkin. The Promise is Brown's latest play and this is its world premiere.

Cast: Nicholas Asbury, Patrick Brennan, Richard Clothier, Miranda Colchester, Sam Dastor, Oliver Ford Davies, Christopher Ravenscroft, Colin Stinton, Michael Sheldon, Jonathan Tafler.


Running time: First half - 1 hour 15 mins
15 interval
Second half - 1 hour 5 minutes

Evening performances start at 7.45 (finishing at 10.20), Thursday matinees at 2.30 pm (finishing at 5.20) and Saturday matinees at 3 pm (finishing at 5.35).

'RIVETING....HISTORICAL DRAMA AT ITS DIALECTICAL BEST', The Guardian, Four Stars.

'SIMPLY GRIPPING...STRONG, UNSHOWY PERFORMANCES', The Times, Four Stars.

'ENGROSSING...FINE ACTING', The Independent, Four Stars.