ABOUT KNOCK KNOCK.

As a liaison officer for the army, Ilana, a single mother, supports families who’ve lost their sons and daughters to the wars. But when the time comes for her only son to wear the army uniform, she faces a life-changing dilemma.

How would you raise your child, if you knew that one day their turn will come to hold a rifle?

Niv Petel weaves a vivid and detailed familial relationship in KNOCK KNOCK, an immersive physical mono-drama about the effects of National Service on everyday life.

Following a successful two week run in London at the Etcetera Theatre in November 2016, and in Leeds as part of the 30th Anniversary JFest International Season in March 2017, KNOCK KNOCK is hoping to make its way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the 2nd of August 2017 for one month.

How is it to grow up in a country where the army is inextricably intertwined with life?

In a place where children are destined to be soldiers from the day they are born, the parents – all former soldiers themselves – know that one day, a liaison officer might KNOCK on their door too.

Inspired by real life situations, and with a lot of humor, KNOCK KNOCK cuts through the thick curtain of politics to tell a story about parenthood, friendship, love and sacrifice.

WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?

Tensions in the Middle-East, apart from the ongoing conflict in Israel, are running high, and have been increasing in the last decade. This show will open the eyes of people to the heavy price parents, families and societies are paying due to the wars and conflicts. There must be another way!

In the centre of KNOCK KNOCK is a relationship between a mother and her only son, which is an eternal bond, and worthy of being praised and explored at any given time. This show will make parents appreciate every moment they get to spend with their children, and vice versa.

WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

A lot of Jewish people around the world are less connected with the situation in Israel and get their knowledge mainly from the news. This show gives them a glimpse beyond the dry facts on the news, and a real taste of everyday life there.

For Jewish or Israeli communities who are well connected and updated on the ongoing events, KNOCK KNOCK can be a pleasant and warming reminder of the Israeli and Jewish unique and colourful culture.

KNOCK KNOCK raises important, rarely considered issues which may seem remote to people who live outside of Israel and the Jewish communities but sadly affect families’ lives not only in Israel but in many other parts of our modern, civilised, conflict-ridden world.

Since the UK is not a country where war directly impacts on the fabric of the citizens’ daily lives, it’s hard to imagine the reality of what that may be like to live with.

Moreover, in certain parts of the world, parents raising children know that, when they get to their late teens, their kids will be sent off to do national service in the armed forces, risking their futures and possibly their lives in the process.

It’s almost impossible from the “vantage” point here in the UK to appreciate the torment parents experience in those circumstances, or indeed the impact on the young people themselves.

But this short, one hour, play, inspired by real events, can give some insight especially into the issue of parents raising children who are destined to be conscripted.

KNOCK KNOCK will raise awareness to the complexity and absurdness of the life in Israel in the shadow of the ongoing conflict. Because it is sometimes easy to forget there are human beings behind the pictures on the news.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP?

It is very important that KNOCK KNOCK is accessible to everyone no matter who you are and what your background is. Therefore none of our tickets to the show will be priced above £10. We therefore need to raise the production costs from donations.

Your kind donations will go towards supporting KNOCK KNOCK‘s journey up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the 2nd August 2017 for one month.

We need your donations to cover the following costs:

• Creative team living costs.
• PR and Marketing.
• Venue Costs.
• Transport.
• Insurance.
• Set, Costume and Props.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Niv Petel – Writer and performer of KNOCK KNOCK.

Niv Petel originally trained in Israel, where he worked for a number of years in theatre, TV and voiceovers, and won the award for Best Actor in Theatre for Youth and Children, 2014, for his role in the one-man show Snowball.

Theatre credits in Israel include: Much Ado About Nothing (Ber Sheva Theatre); The Comdey Of Errors (Ber Sheva Theatre); Company (Ber Sheva Theatre); Mother Of Him (Beit Lessin Theatre). Niv is the Israeli voice for Hiccup in How To Train Your Dragon amongst many others.

Since graduating from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2015, Niv’s credits in the UK include: NotMoses (Arts Theatre. Director: Gary Sinyor); Red Riding Hood (Hoxton Hall. Director: Marc Day); and he is currently performing in La Strada (UK tour. Director: Sally Cookson).

Maia Levy – Artistic Advisor.

Artistic advisor, Maia Levy, is an Israeli actress and dramaturge who trained at Beit Zvi School for the Performing Arts. Since graduating (2010), she has performed in various theatres such as Hasifriya, Beit Lessin, Orna Porat, National Youth Theatre, and she is currently on tour with two one-woman shows The Longest Week In Moran’s Life and Fish In The Net.

Rhiannon White – Designer.

Set and costume design is by Rhiannon White who has previously designed for Walk the Plank and Liverpool Open Culture and owner of puppetry company Twitching Tales that brings puppets to events across the county and has recently featured on BBC NorthWest Tonight.

Oliver Bush – Lighting Designer.

Lighting design is by Oliver Bush who most recently designed The Gin Chronicles at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Julius Caesar at Brighton Fringe and the UK tour of Life On Wheels, his designs have won awards from The Association of Lighting Designers.

How to contact KNOCK KNOCK

We are always looking to find new collaborators and supporters in the UK, USA and Europe to help bring KNOCK KNOCK to the widest possible audience.

Please feel free to email nivpetel@gmail.com with any questions or queries.