Forewarning: this review may allude to spoilers and trigger warnings related to pregnancy.

Sometimes, theatre needs to pull back the pomp and circumstance and deliver work that is raw and unfiltered. And this is exactly what the Royal Court Theatre have done with Guess How Much I Love You?

This production shows the relationship between a young married couple, from their 20 week scan and through the unexpected turmoil from the results of this. We watch as their hearts and relationship break and rebuild, through unimaginable circumstances and laid completely bare to us and our own emotions.

Robert Aramayo, who has just won himself two Baftas, and Rosie Sheehy present an intimate and realistic couple, so much so that it almost feels as if we are peaking in through that fourth wall to something private. They bounce off one another in a natural way and present something ever so real.

The writing itself lends itself, along with their fantastic acting, to build us up, wrap us in their love, which packs the punch so much more when the blows come. It makes us feel their pain as raw and heartbreakingly as they may feel and it does not stop when we think it will… it’s almost like Luke Norris when writing the play thought “are those all the tears you have? I want more!” Norris has not shied away from the real conversations, the moments of anger and hatred as well as deep love, unconditional and the juxtaposition between these moments is again, so raw and truthful. No pretending this is some fairy story or happily ever after… which, there is somewhat of one, but, a very difficult happily ever after.

The set is simple – glimpses into hospital wards, their bedroom, their bathroom, and propped up high above us. We look in but the rooms are small and again, we feel like we are peaking into the privacy of their lives. It makes when we meet their baby all the more close and makes them seem even smaller, unconsciously, and we want to reach out and cuddle him ourselves. Scene changes are abrupt, filling the room in pitch black and ominous instrumentals that are neither jolly nor frighting, but creates an uneasiness; and this is so effective to give us the tiniest of reprieves. We’re then treated with this open, full stage, in the end scene, with the two at the beach, almost like the pressure of their feelings and situation has relented. The writing brings the story back around full circle, but not after we’re beaten and bruised by the former emotional roller coaster.

Guess How Much I Love You? is every bit beautiful, painful and hard hitting. Not a dry eye in the house, you’ll come away in awe of this production and needing a few minutes to collect yourself – all in the best way that fantastic theatre creates.