Lace up your boots and vote to catch the exciting new play LOVE IT IF WE BEAT THEM kicking off at Blackpool Grand Theatre on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 November, fresh from rave reviews.

It’s a knockout play about love, the Labour Party and the beautiful game…

It’s Spring 1996, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United are riding high in the Premier League and Tony Blair’s New Labour are gathering pace. Hope is in the air and victory seems within reach. Len, a long term hard left activist, has decided to run as a candidate for local Labour MP, but the arrival of Victoria from Manchester as New Labour’s front runner throws a spanner in the works. With loyalties tested and tensions reaching fever pitch, the winning team will be decided in an explosive head-to-head challenge.

Love It If We Beat Them is an acclaimed new political drama from renowned North West theatre company Emmerson & Ward Productions and is written by celebrated playwright and performer Rob Ward. This ‘funny, wise and dark’ production which ‘sizzles with tension’ explores a time of significant change in the identity of the UK’s North East communities and perfectly captures a moment in recent history that still defines who we are today.

Set against the backdrop of the infamous Premier League season when Newcastle United almost won under the management of Kevin Keegan, Love It If We Beat them also explores the age-old political questions: What is power without principle? And what are principles without power?

Blackpool Grand Theatre Chief Executive, Adam Knight, said: “Writer Rob Ward and producer Max Emmerson have crafted a brilliant new play fusing the passions of football and politics. Blackpool and Fleetwood are proud footballing towns, and The Grand is thrilled to be putting the beautiful game centre stage as we support one of the North West’s most talented theatre making teams to share their latest pitch-perfect play with audiences here in Lancashire”.

Love It If We Beat Them from Emmerson & Ward is on Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 6 November at 7.30pm at Blackpool Grand Theatre. Tickets from £15.50 with with group/schools rates available and concessions for under 18s.

There are also discounted tickets available for 18 to 26-year-olds as part of the national ticket scheme to encourage young adults to experience all forms of live theatre.

Recommended age 14yrs+ (Contains strong language and themes of child loss)