'A Knock on the Roof' review — a poignant exploration of daily life under siege
Read our review of A Knock on the Roof off Broadway, a solo play written and performed by Khwala Ibraheem and directed and developed by Oliver Butler.
“Are we ready, Lisa?” Mariam (Khawla Ibraheem) calls out from the stage over the heads of an alert audience. With a conspiratorial nod to the front row, the fourth wall collapses, the lights dim, and A Knock on the Roof begins.
The title of this 85-minute play, written and performed by the Syrian Palestinian Ibraheem, refers to the “knock on the roof,” a warning bomb dropped by the Israel Defense Forces on civilian homes in Gaza. It signals the residents have 5-15 minutes to flee before the real bomb strikes. Directed and developed by Oliver Butler (What the Constitution Means to Me), the play fixates on these 5 minutes, in anticipation of which Mariam does running drills and constantly reevaluates how and if to carry precious cargo if it would shorten the distance between her and a bomb.
Built on a foundation of obsession, instinct, and dread, A Knock on The Roof unfolds as a relentless monologue, barraging the audience with Mariam’s real-time commentary of everyday life. While this unyielding pace mirrors the terror of the knock, a pause within the text could let the audience absorb its weight fully.
But in the same way Mariam utilizes every second after the knock on the roof to run towards safety, Ibraheem utilizes every second of the show to talk to her audience, and listening is learning. Despite presenting some of the darkest material currently off Broadway, Ibraheem brings earnestness, play, and wit to the stage as she thinks out loud, cajoling the audience to lean into the open dialogue the piece requires.
In one moment, she asks an audience member if the bra she is wearing is the only one she'd need to bring and waits, expectantly, as if to ignore her would be rude. In another moment, during one of Mariam's training sessions, an audience member at my performance attempted to stifle a loud sneeze, which Ibraheem was delighted to address mid-run: “Bless you!” The audience beamed.
A Knock on the Roof summary
Following a debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, A Knock on the Roof makes its Off-Broadway debut at New York Theatre Workshop. Ibraheem's play tells the story of Mariam, a mother in Gaza who rehearses evacuation drills, bracing for the "knock on the roof." With marathon-worthy endurance, Ibraheem adjusts her physical mannerisms to vocalize both sides of conversations between Mariam, her son, her mother, and more between training runs.
Set against the backdrop of life in Gaza, the poignant and deeply moving piece unravels the meaning of survival, resilience, and obsession and invites audiences to confront the emotional weight and scars of war.
What to expect at A Knock on the Roof
A Knock on The Roof is designed to invite the audience into Mariam’s life, including the ritual of her timed training runs she does late at night. This routine lulls the audience into a rhythm: alarm, run, timer, repeat. That is, until the pattern is broken and Ibraheem paints the true perils of war. It is not a drill, and the final moments of the text demand the audience bear witness to uncomfortable truths.
Ibraheem actively listens for reactions from the audience that she can integrate into her performance, bringing the already-close viewers further into her orbit. Though the play utilizes a chair and no other set, a special effect is employed toward the end of the piece that heightens Ibraheem’s monologue and ups the stakes of the action.
A Knock on The Roof discusses violence and war and is recommended for audiences ages 12 and older.
What audiences are saying about A Knock on the Roof
As of publication, A Knock on the Roof has a 77% audience approval rating on the review aggregator site Show-Score, compiled from 20 reviews.
- “While the topic is important, the writing is repetitive, same scenario over and over, maybe that's the point, but I kept waiting for it to deepen and build, not just the same thing over and over. And I didn't believe the ending. ” - Show-Score member Ekaje
- “A heart-breaking performance. She was incredible. Get ready to cry. I’m thankful she is brave enough to tell this story that too many mothers have to face” - Show-Score member Tessa Rae.
- “SO devastating to watch, and intensely engaging.” - Show-Score member Brennalynne
- “Same director who directed “what the constitution means to me”. If you like that work, don’t miss this one. Solo show. As a writer: great. Seamless hopping on timeline, past & future; also dreamscape and reality. With humor and poetry As a performer: lack versatility (too much whining) and clarity (heavy accent) The piece in general didn’t shed new light for me on Gaza livelihood. I can imagine why it was a hit at fringe festival, but at NYTW i expect more.” - Show-Score member XS2211
Read more audience reviews of A Knock on the Roof on Show-Score.
Who should see A Knock on the Roof
- If you enjoy historical literature and detailed recounts of historical events, you will appreciate the factual context the piece gives for the reality of life in Gaza at wartime.
- This play is for you if you have an interest in theatre that explores the possibilities of movement onstage, such as how to enticingly act out a 5-minute running sequence in an Off-Broadway theatre.
- This production is perfect for those interested in learning more about Palestine, the culture and customs of the Palestinian people, and the history of conflict in the country.
- See the show if you like plays that require one actor to perform multiple roles — and the creative ways this can be achieved.
Learn more about A Knock on the Roof off Broadway
Khawla Ibraheem delivers a physically and emotionally demanding solo performance in A Knock on the Roof, a deeply affecting exploration of survival under siege that forces the audience to confront the human cost of war, the nearness of death, and the weight of survival.
Photo credit: A Knock on the Roof off Broadway. (Photos by Joan Marcus)
Originally published on