Twenty-one years ago, after a difficult pregnancy marked by strange cravings, terrifying nightmares and paranoid fantasies, little baby Andrew was born. And at first glance, his golden eyes, budding horns and tiny tail seemed to confirm the belief of those around him that he was the child of Satan.

But over the last two decades, his eyes have mellowed into a gentle brown, and his horns and tail have only partially emerged. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, he has shown little interest in black Masses or in overthrowing God. It is fair to say that he is something of a let-down for the members of the coven.

Now Andy finally comes of age. Tonight, he was supposed to take his place as the head of a diabolical revolution. But he just wants to celebrate his twenty-first birthday in his own special way. The frustrated adults sit on the sidelines, nursing their disappointments, drowning their sorrows in cocktails and questioning whether Andy’s parentage is as certain as they once thought.

Exploring the eternal nature / nurture debate, and inspired by American “devil child” novels and films of the sixties and seventies, The Year Is Twenty-One celebrates the decisive moment when a young man faces up to his heritage of horror.