Dive

"The storm clouds rolled in, and I jumped."

Date - February 2026

Venue - The Bridewell Theatre, London

Director - Sara Brodie

Love is a fickle thing. Love moves us all. Love can make us inseparable. And, to quote the promotional blurb, “love is the best, until it’s not”. Laura Hayes’ stunning play Dive is a love story, told through the lens of the characters You and I, refracted and mirrored by multiple couples, from teenage till death do them part. It is a harrowing, visceral, tender, intense journey of soaring highs and crashing lows. It tells a story of humanity through the lens of intimate partner violence and coercive and controlling behaviour, all encompassed within the embrace of love. For all intents and purposes, it is a fantastic play.

To rehearse and perform this piece was a revelation. To humanize appalling behaviour is always a challenge, and it was necessary in this case to tell the complete story. Malice isn’t inherent, it is developed and shaped by life and circumstances. Often, it is accompanied by moments of genuine connection, love, and joy. A flawed human does not a monster make, but a flawed human that refuses change can be monstrous in nature. Those who encounter this side of humanity whilst wrapped in the throes of love don’t always have the option of an easy exit. Making this negotiation between love, rage and fear apparent was our work, and I hope we did it well. This performance marked the UK Premiere of this play. 

Photo Gallery 

Photos courtesy of Andrew H. Williams