The Urmetazoan at Hampstead Theatre

The Urmetazoan by Alex Rugman is a beautiful play about sisterhood, blasting off on the Downstairs stage at Hampstead Theatre.

The Urmetazoan is, on the face of it, a story about the stars as Alice prepares for her mission to another planet. But it’s ultimately grounded in family dynamics, bringing it back down to earth. Alice’s sister, Abigail, comes to stay with her, turning this into a story of familial reconnection, shared memories, and difficult goodbyes.

Alice and Abigail haven’t spoken for years. But Abigail turns up in Florida to spend some time with her sister before she leaves Earth forever. They reminisce, they joke, they argue, just as sisters do. It’s an emotionally charged reunion as Abigail tries to get to grips with the fact that her sister is leaving, while Alice battles with feelings of not wanting to go at all.

It all takes place on a plain, almost cold living room set which Abigail says to Alice is “not as bad as you described it”. A grey emptiness reflects Alice’s state of mind as she prepares for her journey. But the staging turns out to be far more sophisticated and interesting, as clever lighting and low rumbling put the audience close to the rocket tests. The simple set reveals more intelligent and intricate surprises as the play goes on.

Dorothea Myer-Bennett, as Alice, and Meghan Treadaway, as Abigail, are both powerhouse performers. No doubt they belong on bigger stages, but to see them in an intimate studio theatre like Downstairs is a real treat. They bring the sisters to life and perfectly capture the amusement, annoyance, joy, fear, and pain that they feel.

Alex Rugman’s narrative and dialogue is raw and gripping. This is an impressive debut play from the writer, to say the least. Using something so literally otherworldly as a mission to Mars and making it feel instantly familiar and real to everyone watching demonstrates his strength as a writer.

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.

Jim Compton-Hall
Photos: Rich Lakos

The Urmetazoan is at Hampstead Theatre from 18^th September until 24^th October 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.