By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 17 January, opens 22 January and runs through 21 February 2026 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (without interval)

A pregnant couple make small talk and play guessing games as they await the result of their 20-week scan.

• Read on for reasons including how this is the best new play of 2026 so far

But as the absence of the midwife from the NHS hospital room grows longer the couple start to ponder on her behaviour and start to fear the worst.

Author Luke Norris (The Normal Heart, National Theatre) is perhaps best known as an actor in TV’s recent Poldark but his new play is written beautifully filled with words of such cruelty and reconciliation that only couples deeply in love would ever trade in private.

They’re played by the Olivier Award-nominated Rosie Sheehy (The Brightening Air, Old Vic) and Robert Aramayo (Apple’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power and film I Swear) currently up for the BAFTA Rising Star award.

The play is predominantly a 2-hander and the central pairing convince as a couple with very funny and frank relatable banter including about the misogyny of porn, whether Morrissey is racist, the nature of religion or faith and if their parents were animals what they would be.

Lena Kaur is the midwife and the couple are reminded that whatever new hell they negotiate they have the NHS to thank for not going bankrupt as they go through it.

Directed Jeremy Herrin gives us scenes in cramped box sets representing hospital rooms, the couple’s bedroom and toilet until a final almost dreamlike reveal as hope in the sun that had previously not made sense reveals itself.

Sheehy is such a terrific actress that always gives everything to a part and her commitment here is so great that she gives us moments of howling grief spattered with her own tears and saliva that it’s impossible not to share her pain.

Aramayo is no slouch either and has perhaps the less sympathetic role but gives a real sense of what his partner might value in his clowning coupled with a desire to be the best parent possible.

The couple’s banter feels so natural that it’s impossible not to be endeared by their goofing but also plain speaking with each other.

Welcome to the 1st best new play of 2026.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Royal Court Theatre Tickets
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