Promise

It's the beginning of World War I and Herbert Samuel - the first practicing 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 - is implacably opposed to the idea, a conflict complicated by Montagu's passion for the beautiful aristocrat, Venetia Stanley, a confidante of the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. Politics, religion and love collide with world-changing effect in this play of political and sexual intrigue, and the origins of Israel. The Promise premiered at the Orange Tree Theatre in February 2010.