What is power without principle? What are principles without power?

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 traditional Labour left activist, has decided to run as a candidate for local Labour MP, but the arrival of Victoria as 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 a new political drama from writer Rob Ward that explores a time of significant change in the identity of North East communities and perfectly captures a moment in recent history that defines who we are today. A knockout play about Labour, love, and the beautiful game.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at Newcastle's Live Theatre, in March 2023.