The idea behind the play is that your 21st is a big event in your life. It signifies adulthood and maturity but it is just after those teenage years. So people are on the cusp of change. For example, Sean is 21 but he is still lives at home. His father has died under tragic circumstances and his family is still living with that turmoil. But the relationship with his mother is complex and is in flux between traditional parent/child relationship and viewing his mother as a separate adult. As he is slightly older he normally feels he can better put in perspective the issues of his teenage years, such as grief, loneliness and bullying; but not on this night...

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In the early 90s, Northern Ireland was in turmoil but was also potentially on the cusp of change. Political elements were forming to allow that to happen but it was still in the balance because everyone was so embittered. However, the main political players were getting older. They had children, people had more perspective because of their age, and had more understanding of the consequences of their actions. This is shown in the play where there is a debate between the main character and a character with republican views. The debate is respectful because the republican character is middle-aged and is a father and has a deep, near parental, concern for Sean and the situation that he's in that evening. This respectul debate allows the arguments to be played out instead of people being dismissive or abusive.

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The other main theme of the play is to do with grief. This is discussed in the context of one of the victims of the Troubles. Most adults will have experienced grief but not acute grief, which the victim is experiencing due to the sudden loss of her loved one through violence. Acute grief that Sean and his mother experienced due to the sudden death of Sean's father. Sean therefore understands the grief of the victim of the Troubles, and sometimes their experiences exactly mirror each other. From research, acute grief is all consuming mentality and physically and I wanted to explore that in the play.

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For all the talk of politics, the play is a love letter to my mother. My mother died in 2001. The scenes between Sean and his mother are very poignant and emotional for me. I hope this comes through and emotionally moves people based on their own family experiences.