“What’s the most powerful instinct in nature?” Geneticist Fred (Bob Gilchrist) asks fellow scientist and friend Lilian (Lia Burge) before becoming the sperm donor for her and wife Sarah’s (Bethan Clark) baby.

“Self preservation,” Lilian replies. “No, it’s procreation,” insists Fred.

Shortlisted for the New Writing South Best Play Award, The Maternal Instinct is a thought-provoking look at whether our instincts are pre-programmed. The answer seems to be yes as, after ten years of research, the pair fail to remove the maternal instinct from lab mice.

Monica Bauer’s play begins with Sarah and sister-in-law Emma (Charlotte Donachie) horrifying Lilian by giving a sperm donor profile as an anniversary gift, prompting Lilian to complain, “It was that baby shower last month, all those lactating heterosexuals brainwashed you.”

However, it becomes clear that recovering alcoholic Lilian’s real fear is that she is destined to drink again. “It’s a tendency in your genes calling you up in the middle of the night.”

Some classic comedy moments counteract the serious themes, such as Sarah and Fred’s romance-less rendezvous to make the baby with a bottle of warm champagne and Frank Sinatra’s Strangers In The Night, and Lilian’s cringe-worthy drunken scientific presentation.

Despite some nerves, all five cast members came through with strong, convincing performances.