Sucker Punch

Story

The setting is 1985, the night of the Broadwater Farm riot, in a Tottenham gym owned by a small-time, pugnacious Thatcherite, Charlie, who spots two talented local teenage boxers. Under Charlie's mentorship, the conformist Leon becomes a contender, going on to win British and European title belts. Troy accuses him of being an “Uncle Tom” not least for sacrificing his love for the Charlie’s daughter to his ambition. Meanwhile Troy is in trouble with the law so hightails it to Detroit where he’s spotted by a powerful black promoter. Inevitably he ends up back in the ring pitted against his old friend, Leon.

Why we chose it

Roy Williams is one of the UK’s finest playwrights – also a champion for black talent in British theatre. Of the many works we could have chosen, this is particularly strong for younger audiences: displaying his skilful theatrical and literary storytelling. The trapped energy of the boxing ring is present in the play’s text and its physical production. Of its time – Thatcher’s Britain – it also carries universal, recurring themes of power, love and how to rewrite the hand you’ve been dealt.

Where it came from

William’s previous plays had explored similar themes: male friendship, black working class experience, malignant ethnic stereotyping and the question of what kind of Britain we have created and what kind we really want.

Suckerpunch = an unexpected punch or blow

Where it went next

Sucker Punch was due to have a 10th anniversary revival at Theatre Royal Stratford East in July 2020. Cancelled because of the Covid 19 pandemic, new dates have yet to be confirmed.

Associated stories

Williams and his work – notably Fallout, set around gun crime - came to wider public attention in the mid 1990’s when there were few prominent black writers for the stage. He has inspired a generation of talented artists in the decades since. Death of England about football and national identity, written with Curtis Dyer, was mounted by the RNT in 2020