Strategic Love Play

Theatre (new writing)

  • ROUNDABOUT @ Summerhall - ROUNDABOUT
  • 13:10, 17:20
  • Aug 27
  • 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Suitability: 14+ (Guideline)
  • Country: United Kingdom - England
  • Group: Paines Plough, Soho Theatre, Belgrade Theatre, Landmark Theatres
  • Warnings and additional info: Strong language/swearing
  • Accessibility:
    Captioning
    May not apply to all performances. You'll find more information about accessibile performances and how to book tickets in the accessibility tab below.
  • Babes in arms policy: Babies do not require a ticket
  • Policy applies to: Children under 2 years

Description

So they’ve both swiped right. Now they’re meeting for the first time. Facing each other. As if that’s a normal thing to do. But she’s being uncomfortable, and he’s a total bore. The vibe is horrific and the banter is even worse. But something is keeping them in their seats. Something is making them stay. Welcome to your hot date. With acid wit, Miriam Battye’s new play takes a scalpel to modern romance, interrogating what we really talk about when we talk about love.

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General venue access

  • Captioning
  • Accessible entry: Information not supplied
  • Wheelchair access type: Wheelchair accessible (please contact the venue for more information)

  • Stairs: Information not supplied

Each venue can contain several space with different accessibly information. Visit the venue page for full venue accessibility info


Captioned performances

  • Dates: 4 August, 5 August, 6 August, 7 August, 9 August, 10 August, 11 August, 12 August, 13 August, 14 August, 16 August, 17 August, 18 August, 19 August, 20 August, 21 August, 23 August, 24 August, 25 August, 26 August, 27 August, 2 August
  • Type: Closed (Tablet)
  • Booking options: You can book independently online, or contact our access team to book your tickets and request any specific seating locations or if booking a unit is required.

How and when to make an access booking

Our access tickets service is available to anyone who:

  • Would like to book specific accessibility services, e.g. a hearing loop, audio description headsets, captioning units, seating in relation to the location of the BSL interpreter
  • Requires extra assistance when at a venue
  • Has specific seating requirements
  • Is a wheelchair user
  • Requires a complimentary personal assistant ticket to attend a performance

Jonathan Smith 27 days ago

Strategic Love Play starts with characters named Her and Him part-way through a first date in a bar arranged online, which seems about to end due largely to Her's apparent desire to sabotage it. The play continues with extracts from the date which veer from one extreme to the other in terms of whether or not the two will meet again. Although the first scene is the highlight, the play is a thrilling rollercoaster ride with vicious banter and one of the best shows I saw in Edinburgh this year. Performances have been sold out but extra tickets may be available an hour before the show.

Sharron Brannen 36 days ago

Absolutely loved this firecracker of a play! Sharp writing from Miriam Battye , witty, funny and fast paced- the acting is amazing from both actors and from Archie Backhouse a masterclass in comic timing.

Ali Dunsford 38 days ago

Really enjoyed the show, would definitely recommend. Great venue too…no bad seats

Ellen Hancock 46 days ago

Absolutely brilliant actors in a superbly written show. Each character was remarkably written, both extremely relatable at times and wonderfully funny. You begin by seeing no compatibility in the couple (as intended), but throughout you begin to root for them. By the end you are utterly invested in them both. The underlying message was beautiful, and gave huge insight into how people think when dating. I would really recommend seeing this show - the best thing I’ve seen at the fringe.

Kathy 48 days ago

A show which I can't stop thinking about at the moment. Funny, sad, abrasively annoying at the start but builds into something surprisingly beautiful. Excellent acting performances and loved the spinning circular set - even if you're directly behind one of the chairs at the start, the play is directed well to ensure no one feels like they are missing much of either performance.


Participants - for further details on our audience and published review policies, including how to add or opt out of reviews, please click here.

Camden New Journal (3.5/5 stars) 21 days ago

The pair cover all the permutations of a relationship in just 70 minutes

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West End Best Friend (5/5 stars) 27 days ago

A delight to watch.

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UK Theatre Web (4/5 stars) 28 days ago

Beautifully written, excellently staged and convincingly acted this is a delight of a comedy.

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The Student Newspaper (4/5 stars) 29 days ago

a gripping dissection of these new modern love stories.

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Theatre Travels 32 days ago

an enthralling performance

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Bouquets & Brickbats (4/5 stars) 33 days ago

It’s cynical, abrasive and very funny.

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The Reviews Hub (4.5/5 stars) 34 days ago

Letty Thomas as Her and Archie Backhouse as Him are both superb as Katie Posner’s direction picks up every nuance in the script without ever over playing them.

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The Indiependent (4/5 stars) 37 days ago

The talent in these performers is not to be understated, drawn out by Battye’s sharp dialogue.

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Lost in Theatreland (5/5 stars) 38 days ago

Thomas and Backhouse are electrifyingly good

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Theatre Weekly (3/5 stars) 38 days ago

A charming, witty, if somewhat pessimistic view on modern dating

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The Stage (4/5 stars) 41 days ago

British Theatre Guide (5/5 stars) 41 days ago

This is Paines Plough at its very best... as usual and expected: examining relationships and the rules of engagement.

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One4Review (4/5 stars) 42 days ago

Excellent acting and a sharp and witty script makes this a must see performance at Summerhall.

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Participants - for further details on our audience and published review policies, including how to add or opt out of reviews, please click here.

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Participants - for further details on our audience and published review policies, including how to add or opt out of reviews, please click here.