A Fine Idea
Arcola Theatre June 11 - July 4 2026
A Fine Idea
by Christine Bacon
Directed by Charlotte Westenra
Arcola Theatre June 11 – July 4 2026
“Without us here, though, can you imagine how much worse it would be?“
It’s 2024. After years circling the globe delivering aid, Jo has built a career supporting those most in need — a good person doing good things.
But 75 years after her grandfather got the idea of “international development” into President Truman’s inaugural speech, global inequality is worse than ever. Eight billionaires now hold the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity.
And when Jo meets an activist who is fighting with her life for her nation’s future, she can’t shake the feeling that the system she passionately believes in might be part of the problem.
Spanning continents and decades, A Fine Idea travels from post-war idealism to today’s overlapping crises, unpicking the history of aid, power and good intentions.
And confronting the question at the heart of it all:
Do we really want to change things — or do we just like the idea of helping?
A Fine Idea is a theatrical response to Jason Hickel’s book best-selling book about global inequality The Divide
Help us bring this urgent, powerful play to the stage
Arcola Theatre June 11 - July 4 2026
Cast:
 Ella Bryant |  Georgina Rich |
 Grace Saif |  Kevin Trainor |
Creative Team:
| Matthew Schmolle | General Manager |
| Lewis Champney | Production Manager |
| Laura Whittle | Stage Manager |
| Genevieve Papadopoulos | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Charlotte Westenra | Director |
| Georgia Wilmot | Set Designer |
| Emma Williams | Costume Designer |
| Hartley Kemp | Lighting Designer |
| Tom Smith | Sound Designer |
| Gurkiran Kaur | Vocal and Accent Coach |
| Jonny Berliner | Composer |
| Kev McCurdy | Movement |
| John Bulleid | Magician |
| Muniira Ali | Assistant Director |
| Nadine Rennie | Casting Director |
Supported by
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and MSN Fund, Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, Mbili Trust, Rhododendron Trust