The Knocky

Synopsis

A council estate in Birkenhead, 1994. The sun beats down relentlessly on cracked concrete and overgrown gardens

Norma Kelly struggles to keep her fragmented family together as they prepare for her mother’s 70th birthday party. When her estranged son Joseph returns home, old wounds are reopened and new secrets threaten to tear the family apart. As the sweltering heat intensifies, so do the tensions within the Kelly household.

The Knocky expertly weaves together themes of family, poverty, and community in a gritty, often darkly comic portrayal of working-class life. Wynne’s razor-sharp dialogue crackles with authenticity, revealing the complex dynamics of a family teetering on the edge of despair. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, the play explores the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones and the devastating consequences of betrayal. Through its vivid characters and richly detailed setting, The Knocky offers a poignant commentary on the struggles of those left behind by society and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.