A grocer and his wife dissatisfied by a play's progress invade the stage and commandeer the play to suit their tastes. They cast their apprentice Rafe in an heroic leading role as the gallant Knight whose banner bears the symbol of the grocer's trade, a pestle. A chaotic play within a play erupts, as each group attempts to carry on despite the unscripted interventions. Meanwhile two young lovers, separated by class and convention, struggle to keep their romance on the rails amidst the disruption.

Written in 1607 by Francis Beaumont at the age of 23 who succeeded Shakespeare as the chief dramatist to the King's Men, The Knight of the Burning Pestle was one of the earliest anarchic English comedies. It was revived in September 2005 by the Mercury Theatre Company, the Young Vic and BITE:05, Barbican, as part of YOUNG GENIUS.