Guess How Much I Love You? - Royal Court Theatre

This poignant new play by Luke Norris follows a young couple confronted with a choice every human being dreads. At their 20-week pregnancy scan, what should be a moment of uncomplicated joy becomes the beginning of something far more devastating. Without giving too much away, the play charts the unbearable grief of the life they imagined, while quietly interrogating the philosophical and moral questions surrounding parental autonomy and choice. Its strength lies in its restraint: political without becoming polemical, emotionally raw yet never exploitative. Norris trusts the audience to sit with discomfort, allowing the humanity of the situation to speak for itself.

Johan Persson

Rosie Sheehy (Her) and Robert Aramayo (Him) are exquisitely matched, their chemistry both heart-warming and gut-wrenching. Sheehy delivers a phenomenal performance, inhabiting her character with such emotional precision that it feels almost intrusive to watch. Her portrayal draws both laughter and tears, often within the same breath. The character’s journey reflects the agonising reality of facing a decision for which there is no clear “right” answer. Sheehy gives form to grief that is volatile, contradictory, and deeply human — her anger is as unsettling as it is understandable, her sorrow devastating without ever tipping into despair. Even in the darkest moments, there remains a flicker of resilience, suggesting not resolution, but survival. The writing allows her to move fluidly between quick wit, gallows humour and emotional collapse, capturing the complexity of maternal identity with painful accuracy.

Aramayo’s character is, by design, more difficult to identify with — particularly for female viewers — yet his performance is quietly affecting. His position is complicated by the biological reality that the decision does not unfold within his body, a tension the play handles with sensitivity rather than judgement. Caught between loving someone who cannot accept that love and trying to make sense of the incomprehensible, he brings moments of levity that never undermine the gravity of the situation. Aramayo avoids caricature, offering instead a portrait of helplessness that is understated and deeply felt.

Johan Persson

Notably, none of the characters are given names. While this may strike some as a minor detail, it is one of the production’s most effective choices. The anonymity universalises the experience: this couple could be anyone. At a time when medical advancement promises certainty yet so often delivers none, the absence of names underscores the unsettling randomness of such loss. It is a choice that reinforces the play’s relevance and emotional reach.

Grace Smart’s set design is similarly restrained and intelligent. A revolving platform allows the action to move seamlessly between examination rooms, hospital spaces and the couple’s bedroom, with minimal interruption. The design is functional without feeling clinical, creating intimacy rather than spectacle. Crucially, it never distracts from the performances at the centre of the production.

Norris has created a work that is as devastating as it is compassionate. This is not a play that offers comfort or easy answers, but one that insists on being felt. Its power lies in its honesty — in its refusal to simplify grief, love or choice. Heart-breaking without being manipulative, this production will stay in the minds of its audiences long after the final blackout. Ultimately, it asks its viewers not what they would do, but whether they are brave enough to truly empathise.

Production Value: 90%

Value For Money: 85%

Personal Enjoyment: 90%

Overall Score: 88% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)

(AD | Ticket gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: Royal Court Theatre, London

Playing until: 21st February 2026

Run Time: Approximately 1h35 (no interval)

Tickets for this show can be found at this link.