Hope

Synopsis

A local council in England 

Mark is the Deputy Leader of a struggling local council and is faced with making devastating cuts to public services. Along with his colleagues Julie, Hilary, Sarwan, and Lata, Mark grapples with the moral dilemmas and public backlash that come with balancing the council’s budget while minimising the damage to the community they serve.

Throughout the play, Thorne explores themes of political responsibility, social inequality, the human cost of austerity, and the difficulty of maintaining hope and integrity in the face of seemingly impossible choices. The tone is a mix of dark humour, poignancy, and raw emotion as the characters confront the harsh realities of their situation and the impact of their decisions on the lives of their constituents.