Three sisters come together to clear out the belongings of their deceased mother only to find even in their mother’s absence the house is not empty. Together they must work to unearth the secrets of their house and help put a lost spirit to rest. The premise of the story is interesting and has real potential, however the overall production falls flat.
We start the show with a mysterious hooded figure standing by the door, entering the stage space and then retreating to the tech desk to loudly stage whisper to the techie throughout the show. In an intimate space such as Theatre One in Surgeons Hall, this was rather distracting to say the least.
Our three sisters are the main focus on the show establishing a nice bond between the three however all emotional reactions to the trauma left between them feel surface level and forced, even when the tension is supposed to be rising it is hard to emotionally connect to any of the characters on stage. We are given snippets of information about their relationships with their mother, but no real depth is given to any of the characters. As the story progresses, lights abruptly flash and the sound of a storm and knocking play, but no atmosphere or tension seems to come from it. The show talks about research that the mother had done to understand the disappearance of a girl and the hauntings of the house, research that had supposedly happened over years, yet the climax of the show happens in seconds. There is no struggle, no fight and very little to react to.
I think with some reworking and a more intricate tech design this show could work, and the cast seem very passionate about the project, however the play as it currently stands leaves its audience wanting.
The Knocking plays at The Space@ Surgeons hall from 10th till the 15th at 10:45am. Tickets can be purchased at The Knocking | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Reviewer: Beth Eltringham
Reviewed: 12th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse Uk Rating: