With the title Lost Atoms, we could have been forgiven for assuming this play was about science. It is, however, a story of the complexities of love and the ups and downs of a relationship between Jess and Robbie, expertly and energetically played by Joe Layton and Hannah Sinclair Robinson. Lost Atoms doesn't just tell a story, somehow it pulls you into its whirlwind of emotion and memory, leaving you breathless by the end. From the opening scene, the dialogue is fast; sometimes funny, sometimes cruel.

Many scenes are deeply emotive, touching on affairs, illness and miscarriage with a brutal honesty. Writer Anna Jordan ensures that these moments are portrayed with sensitivity.

Layton and Robinson not only carry the emotional weight of the story but also engage in daring choreography; climbing up and around the sets of drawers which make up the entire set. Their physical movements become a part of the dialogue; they roll and slide and jump, depicting the highs and lows of their turbulent relationship.

The set which is simple at first glance, proves to be a masterstroke. Clever design choices allow for seamless transitions through time and place. Effective use of lighting cues helps to slip effortlessly between past and future, while pre-recorded sounds, dry ice, and sharp lighting shifts transport the audience from stormy coastal cliffs to cramped studio flats, from nightclubs to family living rooms. Each location is portrayed with minimal props.

This production is an emotionally draining experience, not just for the audience, but clearly for the performers, whose stamina and commitment is staggering. By the final scene, you feel as though you've lived through the full relationship yourself. It is not an easy watch but I don’t think it is supposed to be. Not one to see for an uplifting night out but certainly a well written piece of theatre.

Frantic Assembly-Lost Atoms-Joe Layton-Hannah Sinclair Robinson Photo: Tristram Kenton

Lost atoms is on at Yorks Theatre Royal until 11th October more information here