The Divide
The Divide
The Divide is a tale that unflinchingly explores a dystopian society of repression, insurrection and forbidden love. The show is directed by Annabel Bolton, an Associate Director of The Old Vic.
The Divide is set in the aftermath of a deadly contagion which, a century from now, has decimated the English population and rendered contact between men and women fatal. Under the dictates of an elusive Preacher, an unthinkable solution is enforced. Separated by the Divide, the adult survivors are segregated by gender, as men wear white as a mark of their purity, and women – still infected – are clothed in black as a sign of their sin.
Brother and sister Elihu (Jake Davies) and Soween (Erin Doherty) grow up learning the ways of their tightly controlled society. As they begin to glimpse the cracks in the system, Elihu falls for Giella (Weruche Opia), the daughter of two radical mothers, risking fatal disease and threatening to ignite a bloody revolution. The Divide is a vision of a dystopian future defined by brutal repression and forbidden love.
- Booking Information
The Divide will now run as one performance (approx. 3hrs), so no longer a two-part production
- Cast
Written by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Annabel Bolton
Cast includes Clare Burt, Jake Davies, Erin Doherty, Thusitha Jayasundera, Richard Katz, Sophie Melville, Joanne McGuinness, Clare Lawrence Moody, Weruche Opia, Martin Quinn, Letty Thomas, Finty Williams
- Good To Know
Audio described performance on 7 Feb 7.30pm
Captioned performance on 9 Feb 7.30pm
Additional Details & FAQ
- Cancellation Policy
No exchanges or refunds after purchase.
- How Does It Work
Please bring along your printed voucher to the box office to collect tickets before the show.
- Suitable For Children
Age recommendation: 16 and older
**scenes of nudity**
- Where Do I Go
The Old Vic, The Cut London, SE1 8NB
Reviews
Vicky
Feb 11, 2018
Outstanding acting by Erin. Dialogue amusing in parts and thought provoking in others. Atmosphere vastly improved by live and excellent background chorus - a choral recording would have made this an ordinary production instead of the extraordinary production that it was - thanks to them!
Jules
Feb 11, 2018
Long play but time went very quickly, the acting was outstanding, very enjoyable.
Gill and Tony
Feb 10, 2018
We were initially a bit apprehensive when we saw the running time and were expecting a bleak dystopian play which may have been hard to focus on for that long. However, the show was excellent. Erin Doherty as Saween is awesome - both in terms of remembering that many lines but also her ability to take the audience on her emotional journey. We laughed and felt her pain in equal measure. An actress with a bright future. Also stand outs for us were the actors who played the young lovers. The story is a bit bleak but you can project all your own views onto what the play is about. It was certainly stirring conversation at the interval and the applause at the end was clearly more than polite. We had a great evening and hats off to all the cast and the theatre staff who made it memorable.
miZZ
Feb 6, 2018
The Devide addressed a very important contemporary topic about difference between genders. The lead character Soween (Erin Doherty) is excellent. I really recommended this play to everybody.
Jane
Feb 6, 2018
This was an amazing play. And Erin Doherty was incredible . The rest of the cast were wonderful as well. I really enjoyed the play and the ideas it tackled. My only criticism was that is about 15 minutes to look. But I would urge people to see it for the actors performances alone!
Zasha Mauger Hillier
Feb 6, 2018
A definite must see!
Monica
Feb 6, 2018
A compelling drama relevant to the times in which we live. The monotone staging emphases the blankness that suppression brings . Food for thought in these times of musical frivolity in Theatre. More dramas like this needed .
JH
Feb 4, 2018
You need to stick with it. It seems more like a four fifty five minutes radio series and it would have benefitted from tighter editing. However, notwithstanding its obvious derivativeness from Orwell, Handmaid's Tale etc, it becomes increasingly engaging and builds to a genuinely moving and life-affirming, if slightly drawn out and sentimental, climax. Unlike any Ayckbourn you will have seen before.