Lord of the Flies—the iconic story of young boys fighting to survive after being stranded on a remote island—returns as the BBC’s latest Sunday night drama. But for one of its young stars, the theme of survival extends far beyond the screen.
Twelve-year-old David McKenna, who plays Piggy in the new adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel, has lived through a remarkable journey of resilience and determination. Born with chronic kidney failure, David has already undergone two kidney transplants—both donated by his own parents.
The young actor from Belfast received his first transplant at just four years old, when his father Jim stepped forward as a donor. Six years later, when that kidney began to fail, his mother Elizabeth made the life-saving decision to donate one of hers.
David’s early years were marked by constant hospital visits, tube feeding, and grueling medical treatments. Diagnosed only two weeks after birth, he had just 18 percent kidney function, and doctors knew from the outset that a transplant would eventually be unavoidable. Despite the challenges, his upbeat personality and love of performing never faded.
Speaking in a video shared to mark the 25th anniversary of Children’s Kidney Fund NI in November 2024, David reflected on how far he’s come.
“It completely changed my life,” he said. “Eighteen months ago, I was sitting on a dialysis chair. Now I’m winning musical theatre awards, performing in shows, and something very exciting is happening for me.”
That “something exciting” is believed to be his role in Lord of the Flies, which was filmed in both Malaysia and the UK last year. Like many of his castmates, David is making his professional acting debut. He stars alongside Lox Pratt as Jack, Winston Sawyers as Ralph, and Ike Talbut as Simon.
For David, acting has also been a welcome escape from years of medical hardship. As he explained in a local interview, performing helps take his mind off his health struggles and allows him to focus on something he loves.
His mother Elizabeth has spoken openly about the life-changing impact of David’s first transplant, which took place in October 2016.
“Overnight, it transformed his life,” she told the Belfast Telegraph. “Before that, he had no energy. He couldn’t walk on his own or keep his balance. Suddenly, he was running around the park by himself. Those are things many families take for granted.”
Sadly, the improvement didn’t last. Within a year, the transplanted kidney began to fail, and doctors warned the family that David would likely need another. After a public appeal for donors in 2022, Elizabeth ultimately became the donor herself in 2023, when David was ten.
Since his second transplant, David has continued to thrive. He now trains at the Belfast School of Performing Arts, takes singing lessons, and pursues his dream of a career on stage and screen.
“We are proud of him every single day,” Elizabeth said.
For a boy portraying one of literature’s most vulnerable characters, David McKenna’s real-life story of courage, family, and survival is every bit as powerful as the drama unfolding on screen.
