Out of work actor Joe volunteers to help try and save his sister's local church for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet, somewhat against the advice of his agent Margaretta. As the cast he assembles are still available even at Christmas and are prepared to do it on a 'profit sharing' basis (that is, they may not get paid anything) he cannot expect - and does not get - the cream of the cream. But although they all bring their own problems and foibles along, something bigger starts to emerge in the perhaps aptly named village of Hope.
Michael Maloney
as Joe
Richard Briers
as Henry
Joan Collins
as Margaretta
Nicholas Farrell
as Tom Newman
Julia Sawalha
as Nina
Celia Imrie
as Fadge
John Sessions
as Terry Du Bois
Jennifer Saunders
as Nancy
Gerard Horan
as Carnforth
Mark Hadfield
as Vernon Spatch
Hetta Charnley
as Molly
Adrian Scarborough
as Young actor
