Hi, I’m Johnny McKnight

I’m an award-winning writer, director, performer and educator.

My work spans theatre, film, television, opera and pantomime, with a focus on vibrant storytelling, new writing, and life-affirming work for diverse audiences.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Named Number 6 in The List Cultural Top 100

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Winner of Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland for OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE for She's Behind You!

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Awarded Achievement in Innovation at the 2026 UK Pantomime Awards

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She's Behind You! wins Scotsman FRINGE FIRST for Best New Writing

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Weans In The Woods wins BEST PANTOMIME (Under 550 seats) in UK Pantomime Awards 2026

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Named Number 6 in The List Cultural Top 100 ✳︎ Winner of Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland for OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE for She's Behind You! ✳︎ Awarded Achievement in Innovation at the 2026 UK Pantomime Awards ✳︎ She's Behind You! wins Scotsman FRINGE FIRST for Best New Writing ✳︎ Weans In The Woods wins BEST PANTOMIME (Under 550 seats) in UK Pantomime Awards 2026 ✳︎

  • "McKnight is a force of nature"

    The Skinny on SHE’S BEHIND YOU
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  • "(his) brilliance as a writer, director and performer over more than twenty years has joyfully transformed pantomime through groundbreaking productions, bold inclusivity and creative courage."

    The UK Pantomime Awards Panel (on winning Achievement in Innovation).

  • “Few writers create working class theatre with such an ear for the cadences of its language, a generosity of spirit, and its limitations and problems than the unstoppable force of nature, Johnny McKnight."

    The List

  • "He knows how to write the sort of drama that will have you squirming in your seat at the truth and suspense of it all"

    All Edinburgh Theatre on A PERFECT STROKE
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  • "Anyone who has experienced a Johnny McKnight pantomime will be aware he is a master of the genre and has the ability to switch between genuinely touching and hysterically funny in a heartbeat"

    Broadway World on RAPUNZEL
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  • "A sharp, brilliant and beautifully constructed workplace comedy about some of the key dilemmas of the age... as breathlessly quick-witted as it is hard-hitting and significant"

    The Scotsman on THE JOKE
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  • "Dagger sharp, astute, poignant and often very funny"

    The Reviews Hub on NO LOVE SONGS
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  • "Pitch perfect... dazzles with its skill, delighting with its wit, and frightens us with its moral intelligence"

    The Scotsman on RADIANT VERMIN
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  • "This gender-bending, system-offending panto screams joy from the top of its lungs... very likely the funniest thing on stage in Scotland this year"

    Braw Theatre on PETER PANTO AND THE INCREDIBLE STINKERBELL
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  • "Truly incredible... gritty, hilarious and at times very moving... very, very funny... destined for bigger things"

    Broadway Baby on MEET ME AT THE KNOB
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  • "Impeccable.... a rare treat"

    The Stage on WIZARD OF OZ
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  • "A shatteringly powerful piece... deeply disturbing, deeply moving and deeply challenging"

    Scotsgay Arts on RUBBLE
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  • "The most fiercely powerful solo performance on a New York stage"

    New York Post on PROMISES PROMISES

Highlights

  • The High Life by Forbes Masson, Alan Cumming & Johnny McKnight


    Nominated for BEST PRODUCTION, BEST MUSIC & SOUND, Winner of BEST ENSEMBLE (Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland)

    ★★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Herald
    ★★★★★ The Telegraph ★★★★ The Scotsman
    The cult classic TV show is back and flying higher than ever! National Theatre of Scotland & Dundee Rep Theatre.

  • She's Behind You by Johnny McKnight


    Winner of OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE (Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland) - also nominated for BEST PRODUCTION

    Directed by John Tiffany.
    Traverse & National Theatre of Scotland.

    Winner of SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST FOR BEST NEW WRITING & 2025 BESTIES AWARD.

  • KNOCK TWICE - coming soon

    A new play by Johnny McKnight

    There’s a nice ordinary house in the middle of a nice ordinary street.

    Only there’s nothing ordinary about Number 16.

    When Mikey McAdams arrives at school and announces he can hear the dead talking, Kelly Anderson calls him a liar. Then he says a name he couldn’t possibly know. Her dad’s name. And suddenly Kelly needs answers.

    Knock Twice is a supernatural story about friendship, loss, and one very important question: if you got the chance to speak to someone you’d lost… what would you say?

    Knock Twice is part of this years’ Positive Stories for Negative Times - Wonder Fools’ free international theatre project by young people for young people. Across the last five seasons, it has brought together 11,583 young people from 817 groups to make bold, imaginative theatre in schools, youth theatres and communities. The play will be free to access from October 2026.

  • Winner of Achievement In Innovation Award 2026


    At the UK Pantomime Awards 2026, Johnny was honoured with the Achievement in Innovation Award. The panel recognised his “brilliance as a writer, director and performer over more than twenty years who has joyfully transformed pantomime through groundbreaking productions, bold inclusivity and creative courage.”

  • Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan

    Weans In The Wood wins Best Pantomime

    Written, Directed and Starring Johnny McKnight

    Weans in the Wood wins BEST PANTOMIME (Under 550 seats) at 2026 UK Pantomime Awards.

  • Radiant Vermin by Philip Ridley

    Directed by Johnny McKnight.

    Nominated for BEST PRODUCTION, BEST ENSEMBLE, BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT & BEST DESIGN (Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland).

  • River City

    Winner Royal Television Society BEST DRAMA.
    Written by Johnny McKnight. Directed by Ryan Graham.

    Nominated for Royal Television Society BEST WRITER.

  • Aladdin by Johnny McKnight

    Directed by Johnny McKnight.

    Award for Achievement in Inclusive Practice, UK Pantomime Awards.

  • Promises Promises by Douglas Maxwell

    Directed by Johnny McKnight.

    Nominated Drama Desk Awards: Best Performance.
    New York Times Critics Choice.

  • Peter Panto & The Incredible Stinkerbell by Johnny McKnight

    Directed by Johnny McKnight.
    Tron Theatre.

    Nominated for Best Pantomime (under 500 seats) UK Pantomime Awards.

  • No Love Songs by Johnny McKnight, Laura Wilde & Kyle Falconer

    Directed by Andrew Panton.

    Shortlisted for Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award & Bright Spark Award.

  • A Perfect Stroke by Johnny McKnight

    Directed by Amanda Gaughan.
    A Play, Pie & Pint.

    Nominated for BEST NEW PLAY
    Critics Awards for Theatre Scotland.

  • 101 Dalmatians - Book by Johnny McKnight

    London & UK National tour.
    Originally a Regents Park production.
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Times ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Telegraph ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Evening Standard ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Observer

  • Hamish Macbeth

    Hamish Macbeth

    In development with Free@LastTV.

  • The Joke by Johnny McKnight

    Directed by Jemima Levick.

    Nominated for BEST NEW PLAY
    Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland.

  • Wendy Hoose by Johnny McKnight

    Directed by Johnny McKnight & Robert Softley Gale.

    WINNER Euan’s Guide ACCESSIBLE SHOW.
    Nominated CATS BEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTION.

  • Aganeza Scrooge by Johnny McKnight

    Directed by Sally Reid.

    Winner of Best Pantomime (under 500 seats) at UK 2024 Pantomime Awards.

Current Collaborations

Tron Theatre

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Synchronicity Pictures

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BBC Studios

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Macrobert Arts Centre

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Dundee Rep Theatre

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St Andrews University

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Fable Pictures

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Wonderfools

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Tron Theatre 〰️ Synchronicity Pictures 〰️ BBC Studios 〰️ Macrobert Arts Centre 〰️ Dundee Rep Theatre 〰️ St Andrews University 〰️ Fable Pictures 〰️ Wonderfools 〰️

Current Work

  • River City: The Finale

    Written by Johnny McKnight.
    The end of Scotland’s long running soap.
    Airing Winter 2026.

  • The Snaw Queen

    Written, Directed & Performed by Johnny McKnight.
    Tron Theatre Nov-Dec 2026.

  • Beauty & The Beast

    Written by Johnny McKnight.
    Macrobert Arts Centre, Xmas 2026.

  • Theatre Productions

    Over 60 professional productions.

  • TV & Film

    Over 50 hours of broadcast work.

  • Educator

    Educator

    Worked with participants across all levels and abilities: from pre-school to seniors.