An Honourable Trade

Synopsis

London, 1980s. The halls of Westminster reverberate with whispers of corruption and moral compromise

Sir Walter Pursar, the Attorney General, finds himself caught in a web of scandal and ethical dilemmas. As allegations of police corruption threaten to upend the establishment, Sir Walter must navigate treacherous waters, balancing his duty to uphold the law against mounting pressure from his peers to maintain the status quo. His personal life unravels in tandem with the political crisis, as his wife Janet grapples with trauma and his daughter’s relationship with a teacher comes to light.

Newman’s razor-sharp dialogue and unflinching examination of power dynamics create a taut, suspenseful atmosphere. The play deftly weaves together themes of political corruption, moral ambiguity, and the often blurry line between public and private lives. Through a series of increasingly tense confrontations – in parliamentary offices, private clubs, and domestic spaces – the playwright exposes the rot at the heart of the British political system. An Honourable Trade is a searing indictment of institutional corruption and the human cost of maintaining a façade of respectability, offering a timely and provocative look at the machinations of power and the price of integrity in public service.