Strategic Love Play

After endless swipes left and right two strangers meet for a pint. One asking all the questions you shouldn’t on a first date, the other wants to survive the night. What begins as awkward small talk quickly spirals into a too-honest, too-intimate proposition: No more first dates, no more awkward interactions, skip the swiping, let’s just commit! Bold, witty, and brutally honest, Miriam Battye’s comedy pulls the audience right into the discomfort and hilarity of modern romance.

Writer Miriam Battye is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter, known for her sharp wit and fearless explorations of intimacy, power, and modern relationships. Her plays have been produced at the Royal Court Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange, and Soho Theatre. For television, she has written on acclaimed series including Succession (HBO), cementing her reputation as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary storytelling.

“Cynical, fun, and as gripping as a friend’s rapid-fire WhatsApps from a disastrous first date.” - Pamela Raith, Evening Standard

“Buoyed by sharp comic performances… entertaining for anyone familiar with the exhausting rituals of online dating.” - Gillian Russo, New York Theatre Guide

Written by: Miriam Battye

Directed by: Ava Rusch

Approx running time: 70 mins, no interval