Matt Smith to star in world premiere of THE HUMANS

Shehrazade Zafar-Arif 11 November, 2026, 10:36

Melting Pot and Second Half Productions have announced the world premiere of The Humans, a new play by multi-award-winning playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne, starring Matt Smith.

the humans Artwork provided by production

This new play by Jack Thorne (Adolescence, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Matt Haig (The Midnight Library, Reasons to Stay Alive) and will be directed by Jeremy Herrin (Middlemarch, Guess How Much I Love You?). Full cast and creative team to be announced in due course.

Matt Smith (House of the Dragon, Doctor Who, The Crown) stars as an alien sent to Earth with a mission to prevent the perceived threat of human advancement. Taking on the form of Cambridge mathematician Professor Andrew Martin, he experiences all aspects of humanities - its flaws, contradictions, and immense capacity for empathy and compassion - and finds himself undergoing a profound transformation in the process.

Thorne describes The Humans as "a story, at its heart, about an alien learning the complexity of beauty, and I can't think of a more beautiful alien than Matt Smith.”

The Humans will play at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 30 October 2027 for a limited 13 week run.

The Humans Tickets