Who Knew McKenzie

Synopsis

England, mid-20th century, where the past and present collide in a haunting exploration of isolation and human connection

Marie, a young girl grappling with curiosity and guilt, becomes fixated on the death of an elderly neighbour she never knew. As Marie attends the funeral and begins to piece together fragments of the deceased’s life, she embarks on a journey that challenges her understanding of human connections and the passage of time. Through her interactions with the man’s family members – Angela, William, Emma, David, and Terry – Marie uncovers not a mystical secret, but the simple, often overlooked humanity of “just another forgotten 20th-century man”.

Hilton’s script artfully interweaves themes of isolation, the passage of time, and the impossibility of truly knowing another person. As Marie delves deeper into her quest for understanding, the play explores the emotional landscape of grief, curiosity, and the human need for connection. Through Marie’s journey, the audience is compelled to consider: In a world where lives can slip by unnoticed, how do we honour the humanity in every person, and what traces do we leave behind for others to discover?