DAYS OF HOPE is set in Spain in 1939, in the dying moments of the Spanish Civil War. The story begins with a family celebrating the marriage of the daughter, Sofia, to an English volunteer, but the wedding meal is tinged with anger at Franco and his fascists. They plan to escape that night to England with Sofia's groom, Stanley, but before the plan is executed, various visitors over the course of the evening bring different perspectives upon their condemnation of Franco, of Mussolini and Hitler for their intervention, and of Britain's non-intervention. The family ends up being torn apart, trying to decide whether to flee or stay and fight.
Howard was inspired to write Days of Hope by the political events occurring in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, and was interested that the ideas of freedom and democracy would be seen differently through the eyes of a country which was just discovering their meaning. Relating this to his choice of the Spanish Civil War as a setting for his musical, he said, "I felt that the best way to look at freedom and democracy was to look at it when it was collapsing and failing.Days of Hope will run from October 8 to October 8th, 2013. Ticket prices is £15.00 and £12.50 concessions. Casting to be announced shortly. You can find out more information about All Star Productions at www.allstarproductions.co.uk.
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