Life Out There

Written by Tim Foley

Created by Ransack Theatre

A desperate mission. An untested crew. A long shot no one expects to work.

Somewhere far beyond Earth, a barely-functional spacecraft drifts on a mission most people have already written off. The real scientists are doing the real work back home. Sent into the void: whoever?s left.

Clarke wants to get back. Baby won?t leave the ship. Witney is staying away from their mother. They were never meant to be astronauts. But they are what?s out there.

When something goes wrong in the silence of space, the crew are forced into a decision far bigger than they?re prepared for: a choice not just about survival, but about what kind of future is worth chasing across the galaxy.

Written by Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright Tim Foley, Life Out There is a sharp, funny and quietly horrifying new sci-fi drama, exploring the ethics of space exploration, human selfishness, and the fragile hope that we can still change.

Co-commissioned through ThickSkin's Supported Artist Programme and Made at The Engine Room. Developed with support from the National Theatre?s Generate programme, The Lowry?s Artist Development Programme and the Arts Council England.

Premiering at The Lowry, Salford in July 2026, with subsequent performances at The Engine Room, Wigan and Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, this is the second collaboration between Ransack Theatre and Tim Foley, following their previous production about dinosaurs (?A dotty delight?, Guardian). This time, they?re looking to the stars.

Age Guidance: 15+

Content warnings: Flashing lights, haze, strong language