We round up the reviews for Alex Rugman’s play.
Broadway World: “Rugman’s dialogues are sparse and impressionist. His conversations are naturalistic: past events are hinted at without any detailed descriptions that define Abigail and Alice’s pain, and their shared history unfolds with the familiarity of two people who don’t need to over-explain themselves for the benefit of an invisible audience. He trusts his viewers to engage with his characters emotionally, relying on them to fill in the gaps autonomously.”
Theatre & Tonic: “The Urmetazoan has already established a relationship between two sisters that is compelling to watch. If the characters were explored more deeply and the writing were less restrained in its use of language, the play could develop a stronger sense of lived reality. The complicated, twisted yet deeply warm bond between these two sisters could then be brought into much sharper focus, allowing more audiences to recognise something of themselves in it.”
Fairy Powered Productions: “Rugman’s debut is an intelligent (if at times wandering) and thought provoking play. The themes of family, existence, and living grief are smartly and subtly addressed, and the science is never heavy. The relevance of the subject matter is unavoidable and you certainly leave with some big existential questions, the future, and how we can shape our relationships around it.”
London Theatre 1: “Quite a subtle play, it verges on the impenetrable at times in terms of its dialogue. It was admirable in some respects to have portrayed the two sisters as people who palpably understood each other even without finishing the articulation of their thoughts out loud. But it left parts of the play more difficult to work out than was strictly necessary, a point compounded by, for instance, a video call in which only one side of the conversation could be heard, and at least one scene almost in total darkness.”
The Reviews Hub: “That we can’t escape being human, even if we decide to leave Earth, perhaps explains Will’s presence in this play. But The Urmetazoan’s other ideas about ecology, science, space and neo-colonialism are gripping and smart. This is an intelligent debut by Rugman.”
The Spy in the Stalls: “Myer-Bennett and Treadway are masters at capturing this conversational tone and Rugman builds well on this germ of an idea. What has evolved is a very human story about letting go.”
All That Dazzles: “Overall, Rugman’s debut play is sharp, compelling and thought-provoking, even if its ambition is occasionally constrained by repetition. His exploration of farewell is smartly wrapped within wider questions of morality, choice and blame.”
The Upcoming: “Nearly two hours is pushing it for a show with no interval, so expect some seat shuffling in the last act, but those who can push through will be rewarded with a brilliant production from start to finish. And hopefully the start of more great plays from Alex Rugman.”
The Stage: “Alex Rugman’s debut play about sibling rivalry on a dystopian space mission struggles to marry its themes.”
To book tickets visit: https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2026/the-urmetazoan/