THE END OF HISTORY...

About the show

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.