ALONE
TWO WOMEN.
ONE SPACESHIP.
NO ESCAPE.
by LUKE THORNBOROUGH
THEATRE503, LONDON | OCT 28 - NOV 1, 2025
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE | JUL 30 - AUG 24
ALONE is a heart-racing, feminist sci-fi thriller unfolding in real-time aboard a dying spacecraft. Two women—one a brilliant but overlooked scientist, the other a talented pilot—hold Earth’s last hope. As the ship fails, so does their trust in each other, forcing them to confront both the ticking clock and the fractures between them. Set against the backdrop of climate collapse, ALONE explores the silencing of women in STEM, the search for meaning, and what it truly takes to survive. Tense, emotional, and deeply relevant.
Alchemy Theatre took ALONE to Edinburgh in 2025 and after a 5-star, sell-out, award-winning run was successfully programmed at London’s Theatre503 in their Autumn 2025 season. Written in 2020, this multi award-winning drama premiered at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023 after touring widely across Australia and New Zealand. It ran for a full month at Assembly Studio One to critical and commercial success, earning several awards, award nominations and multiple five-star reviews. ALONE is written and directed by British-born, New Zealand-based creative Luke Thornborough, whose screenwriting background brings a cinematic intensity and realistic dialogue to the stage. Currently living off-grid on Aotea (Great Barrier Island), Thornborough works with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation restoring native ecosystems.
ALONE - cast & CREW
CAST
Jessica Holland - Courtney Bassett
Dr Sarah Taylor - Anthea Freya Hill
Voice of Mission Control - Steve Austin
CREW
Writer - Luke Thornborough
Co-Directors - Luke Thornborough & Stuart McDougall
Producer & Marketing Manager - Charlotte Pleasants
Lighting Design - Michael Goodwin
Sound and Set Design - Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound Technician - Charlotte Pleasants
Production Electrician - Courty Chaos
Prop Design & Set Construction - Indrid Heron
Supporting Technician - Ciara Moss
Poster & Flyer Designer - James Jennifer Wright
Poster Photography - Chris Belous
Science Advisor - Dr Steven Thornborough
Script Advisors - Courtney Bassett, Kat Glass & Dr Bree Turner
Developed By - Luke Thornborough, Courtney Bassett, Briar Collard and Kat Glass
Special thanks to Hannah Coyle and Nathalie Allison
REVIEWS for alone
★★★★★
“A powerful and poignant piece of theatre about the state of humanity.”
“Incredibly immersive and outstandingly emotive, its no wonder it is a multi-award-winning show.”
★★★★★
“ALONE is tense, relevant and unexpectedly tender. A thrilling story told with heart and precision.”
★★★★★
“ Heart-stirring … remarkable”
★★★★★
“Incredibly immersive and outstandingly emotive, its no wonder it is a multi-award-winning show.”
★★★★★
“Flawless performances… And the ending is perfect.”
★★★★.6
“A brilliant representation of the experience of women in STEM, and a wonderful exploration of human connection, in this suspenseful sci-fi success.”
★★★★.5
“Fascinating tonal shifts… brilliantly atmospheric for this increasingly tense piece of theatre.”
★★★★
★★★★
“The atmosphere was electric.”
★★★★
“The audience was unable to tear their eyes away”
This show had me breathless. Some of the best acting I have seen in a long time… Do not miss this show… ALONE could easily be a two-act play running on the West End or Broadway.”
★★★★
“Has you on the edge of your seat”
ALONE - IN THE MEDIA
INTERVIEW ON RADIO NEW ZEALAND
From Nine To Noon, 11:30 am on 6 Aug 2025
“Feminist sci fi drama by New Zealand-based writer returns to Edinburgh Fringe”
INTERVIEW with LONDON THEATRE DOC, Aug 19, 2025
“Alone in the Universe: Alchemy Theatre on bringing ALONE to Edinburgh”
ALONE - IN CONVERSATION
Q & A at Theatre503
We were delighted to host a post-show Q&A with the creative team behind ALONE at Theatre503 in London. Alchemy Theatre member Hannah Coyle led a wide-ranging conversation that traced ALONE’s five-year journey from its genesis to its future, while opening up deeper discussions around the silencing of women’s voices in STEM and the climate crisis.
The discussion explored what continues to draw actor, Courtney Bassett, back to ALONE after being part of the project from the very beginning, and reflected on Alchemy Theatre’s London debut — how the company was formed, and the place it occupies within both the Paris and international theatre landscapes. The conversation also delved into the evolution of ALONE itself, before turning to Sarah’s theory at the heart of the play: a world-changing idea held back by the perfectionism so often expected of women, and how that pressure resonates in real life.
You can hear soundbites from the discussion and highlights from the Q&A on our Instagram.
📍 London, October 2025
Capturing Creativity in the Climate Crisis
A Reading and Discussion AT CLIMATE CHANGE FOR THEATRE ACTION
Alchemy Theatre kicked off the Climate Change for Theatre Action Fringe series with a thought-provoking evening of performance and conversation. Presenting two plays from the CCTA canon, Science is Dead! by David Geary (Taranaki Māori, Canada/New Zealand), and Space Cat by Scottish playwright Lewis Hetherington.
This group of artists, all from New Zealand and now based internationally, offered a diverse set of perspectives intersecting cultural and generational lines, offering a variety of viewpoints on how to harness personal and collective creativity.
Hosted by producer Charlotte Pleasance, the evening features creatives Anthea Freya Hill and Courtney Bassett performing in the readings and sparking discussions with award-winning playwrights Alex Medland and Luke Thornborough, both of whom are known for their work that interrogates the climate crisis.
📍 Edinburgh, August 2025
ALONE PANEL DISCUSSION IN PARIS
Alchemy Theatre and Dr. Bree Turner hosted a panel discussion in Paris featuring a reading from ALONE and a conversation on gender, autonomy, climate action, and women in STEM. The event supported ALONE’s upcoming run at the Edinburgh Fringe and invited reflections on legacy, science, and personal experience. Here, you can watch the recording of the discussion.
📍 Paris, June 2025
AUDIENCE REVIEWS FRINGE 2025
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AUDIENCE REVIEWS FRINGE 2025 |
ALONE ON FRINGE MARKETPLACE |
ALONE ON FRINGE MARKETPLACE |
We are primarily seeking onward touring opportunities, particularly in the UK/Europe, for the show, however all on the creative team are open to touring further and finding representation and development.
PAST PRODUCTIONS
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4-28th Aug 2023 | Assembly Studio One
CREDITS
Produced by Briar Collard and Luke Thornborough
Starring Kat Glass, Steve Austin and Courtney Bassett
Written and Directed by Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound: Michael Goodwin
Costume Design: Courty Chaos
Sound Design: Luke Thornborough
Science Advisor: Dr Steven Wells
Set Design: Luke Thornborough and Courty Chaos
Stage Hand: James Wright, Alex Medland and Lucas -
16th - 18th February 2023 | Q Loft
CREDITS
Produced by Briar Collard, Kat Glass and Luke Thornborough
Starring Kat Glass, Steve Austin and Courtney Bassett
Written and Directed by Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound: Michael Goodwin
Costume Design: Courty Chaos
Sound Design: Luke Thornborough
Science Advisor: Dr Steven Wells
Set Design: Luke Thornborough and Courty Chaos
Stage Hand: James Wright -
6th - 10th September 2022 | Seymour Arts Centre
CREDITS
Produced by Briar Collard, Kat Glass and Luke Thornborough
Starring Kat Glass, Steve Austin and Courtney Bassett
Written and Directed by Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound: Michael Goodwin
Costume Design: Courty Chaos
Sound Design: Luke Thornborough
Science Advisor: Dr Steven Wells
Set Design: Luke Thornborough and Courty Chaos -
12th October - 15th October 2022 | Studio 01.
CREDITSProduced by Briar Collard, Kat Glass and Luke Thornborough
Starring Kat Glass, Steve Austin and Courtney Bassett
Written and Directed by Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound: Michael Goodwin
Costume Design: Courty Chaos
Sound Design: Luke Thornborough
Science Advisor: Dr Steven Wells
Set Design: Luke Thornborough and Courty Chaos
Stage Hand: James Wright -
North Island Tour 2021 New Zealand North Island Tour to New Plymouth, Palmerston North and New Zealand Fringe Festival in Wellington.
Winner: SYNZ Tour Ready Award
CREDITS
Produced by Briar Collard and Kat Glass
Starring Kat Glass, Steve Austin and Courtney Bassett
Written and Directed by Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound: Michael Goodwin
Costume Design: Courty Chaos
Sound Design: Luke Thornborough
Science Advisor: Dr Steven Wells
Set Design: Luke Thornborough and James Wright
Stage Hand: James Wright -
Auckland Fringe Festival | 5th - 7th March
Winner: Best Theatre Auckland Fringe Festival
Winner: PANNZ Tour Ready Award.
CREDITS
Produced by Briar Collard
Starring Kat Glass, Steve Austin and Courtney Bassett
Written and Directed by Luke Thornborough
Lighting and Sound: Michael Goodwin
Costume Design: Courty Chaos
Sound Design: Luke Thornborough
Science Advisor: Dr Steven Wells
Set Design: Adam Rohe
Stage Hand: James Wright
BUY THE PLAY
Limited First Edition of ALONE
10% of all profit from Store Sales go to
"Trees that Count"
Trees That Count is a tree planting charity helping New Zealanders to plant millions of native trees .
Enhance biodiversity, mitigate CO2 emissions, restore NZ.