Synopsis

A small cottage on the East coast of England, tilting slightly as the land beneath it erodes, where three retired nuclear scientists confront their past and an uncertain future.

Rose, a nuclear physicist in her sixties, unexpectedly arrives at the cottage of her former colleagues Hazel and Robin. As the three old friends reconnect, tensions simmer beneath the surface of polite conversation. They reminisce about their shared past working at a nearby nuclear power plant, but it becomes clear that Rose’s visit has a deeper purpose. In the wake of a catastrophic accident at the plant they helped build, Rose proposes a dangerous and sacrificial plan that forces them all to grapple with questions of responsibility, morality, and what they owe to future generations.

Kirkwood’s taut and darkly funny drama explores themes of aging, guilt, and environmental catastrophe with remarkable nuance. Through sharp dialogue and complex characterisations, the play poses profound questions about scientific ethics and personal sacrifice. As the characters dance around uncomfortable truths and confront their own mortality, The Children offers a poignant meditation on legacy, duty, and the price of progress.