THE END OF HISTORY by Thorne, , Writer - Jack Thorne, Director - John Tiffany, Designer - Grace Smart, Lighting - Jack Knowles, The Royal Court Theatre, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson
Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Vicky Featherstone
Dates Performed
Thursday 27th June 2019
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Play Details
Synopsis
A modest Newbury home, its walls a chaotic tapestry of protest posters and faded family photos. The aroma of burnt curry mingles with the scent of idealism and disappointment.
Sal, a passionate teacher and lifelong activist, presides over her family’s tumultuous gatherings across three decades. In 1997, she interrogates her son Carl’s posh girlfriend with equal parts curiosity and disdain. By 2007, she’s grappling with her children’s life choices – Polly’s corporate success and Tom’s struggles with mental health – while clinging to her radical principles. In 2017, as the family reunites to bid her farewell, Sal’s legacy of love, activism, and occasional maddening self-righteousness hangs heavy in the air.
Thorne’s play crackles with wit and warmth, exploring generational divides, political disillusionment, and the complexities of family love. Through sharp, often hilarious dialogue, he captures the bittersweet journey of a family wrestling with the gap between ideals and reality. As socialism collides with pragmatism, and parental expectations clash with children’s autonomy, The End of History offers a poignant, humorous look at how we inherit, reject, and ultimately come to terms with our parents’ values and our own place in a changing world.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Zoe Boyle
Cast
Laurie Davidson
Cast
David Morrissey
Cast
Kate O'Flynn
Cast
Lesley Sharp
Cast
Sam Swainsbury
Designer
Grace Smart
Lighting
Jack Knowles
Sound
Tom Gibbons
In this intimate interview, playwright Jack Thorne and John Tiffany discuss The End of History, Thorne’s new play at the Royal Court Theatre. Sitting casually together, they explore the play’s autobiographical roots, its themes of family and political idealism, and their collaborative process in bringing this personal story to the stage.
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