Matt Smith to star in Jack Thorne’s new West End play The Humans

The play, directed by Jeremy Herrin and based on Matt Haig’s 2013 novel of the same name, follows an extraterrestrial sent to Earth and tasked with preventing the perceived threat of human advancement.

Through the body of Professor Andrew Martin, a Cambridge mathematician, he experiences all facets of humanity – its deepest flaws, inherent contradictions, and capacity for empathy and compassion – undergoing a profound transformation in the process.

The play will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket (Feast)

Matt Smith said: “I’m thrilled to be reuniting with Jeremy Herrin to bring Matt Haig’s The Humans to the stage for the first time, adapted by the brilliant Jack Thorne. It’s going to be a blast.”

Jack Thorne added: “I love The Humans, the chance to work on Matt Haig’s beautiful book with Jeremy Herrin has been an absolute dream.

“It is 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.”

Matt Haig said: “I am so excited about people seeing this. Of all my novels The Humans is possibly the most ‘me’ so I am instinctively protective over it, but I am a massive fan of Jack Thorne and as soon as I saw his incredible script I knew this was being elevated into something very special indeed.

“And Matt Smith is the absolutely perfect protagonist for this story. He was almost designed for this role. It looks like people will be surprised in all the right ways.”

The Humans is written by Jack Thorne (Jeff Moore/PA0

PA Wire

Herrin said: “I’m thrilled to bring this life-affirming story to the stage. Of course, Jack Thorne immediately identified the theatrical possibilities in Matt Haig’s extraordinarily moving and entertaining tale, and in Matt Smith we have a beautifully skilled actor of courage and intensity to deliver a performance that will be unforgettable.

“I can’t wait to work with both Jack and Matt Smith again after their many recent triumphs; and it’s a privilege for Second Half Productions to be partnering with Melting Pot in bringing Matt Haig’s contemporary classic to eager audiences.”

The Humans will run for 13 weeks at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London.

Previews will begin on October 30 2027, with opening night on November 16 2027.

Tickets will go on general sale at 10am on Wednesday November 11 2026.