ROY WILLIAMS’ SUCKER PUNCH RECIEVES FIRST MAJOR REVIVAL TOURING TO 10 THEATRES ACROSS ENGLAND, INCLUDING THE LOWRY, SALFORD

‘KNOCKOUT’ REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR ROY WILLIAMS’ SUCKER PUNCH

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Roy Williams’ SUCKER PUNCH is to embark on its first major tour across England from March – June 2023 as part of theatre network Theatre Nation Partnerships made up of theatres and creative organisations across the country and the National Theatre.

SUCKER PUNCH will open at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 30 March 2023 before embarking on a national tour including The Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th May.

Two best mates, Leon and Troy, have spent their youth growing up in a boxing gym, figuring out a place in the world, vying for the approval of Charlie, their trainer. Soon Leon and Becky, Charlie’s daughter, are trying to keep a big secret. In a ruthless world. But there can only be one winner, and it’s time everyone stepped into the ring to face up to who they really are…

This tender, bruising and funny play by leading British playwright Roy Williams, brilliantly explores being young and black in the 80s. Winning the Alfred Fagon Award, The Writers Guild Award for Best Play and nominated for an Olivier for Best New Play, SUCKER PUNCH first opened in a sell-out production at London’s Royal Court in 2010, launching BAFTA and Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther) onto the world stage.

Transforming the stage into a boxing ring, this revival of SUCKER PUNCH is set to be a thrillingly staged spectacle of blood, sweat and tears with an electrifying soundtrack.

‘Packs a knockout punch’

The Guardian

SUCKER PUNCH cast includes Christian Alifoe (Man vs Bee, Netflix); Shem Hamilton (One Way Out, Theatre Peckham); John Rogers makes his professional theatre debut in Sucker Punch, Wayne Rollins (Nine Night, Leeds Playhouse); Liam Smith (The Mirror and the Light, Gielgud Theatre); Ray Strasser-King (Decrypted, Amazon Prime) and Poppy Winter makes her professional theatre debut in Sucker Punch.

SUCKER PUNCH will be directed by Nathan Powell. Designed by Sandra Falase. Lighting Designer Joshie Harriette. Sound Designer Duramaney Kamara. Movement Director Asha Jennings-Grant. Costume Supervisor Malena Arcucci. Boxing Coach Gary Cooke. Fight Director Enric Ortuño. Casting Director Christopher Worrall. Wellness Coach Michelle Richards. Assistant Director Tosin Alabi.

Nathan Powell said, “It’s such a brilliant piece. I think Roy is amazing at telling really detailed, intricate, big and vast stories for everyone in the audience. I’m really excited to take this piece of work on tour around the country, working with this fantastic network of theatres. I hope that audiences all over the country will go away having interesting conversations with the people that they came with about what it means to be Black in Britain. I don’t want to answer questions for anyone, I actually just want to encourage talking and people to start a conversation. That’s all I can ask for and that’s all I hope for.”

Roy Williams said, “I’m so happy that SUCKER PUNCH is getting another bout in the ring and that so many people throughout the country will get the chance to see it on this tour.”

Kate Varah, Executive Director of the National Theatre said, “Theatre Nation Partnerships is our national network with local impacts and we’re delighted that audiences from Sunderland to North Devon will get to enjoy the thrill of Sucker Punch. Working in partnership with cultural organisations across the country is key to what makes the National Theatre truly national, and will enable us to reach 500,000 people in priority areas across the next three years. This revival of Roy’s play began with a highly physical week of research and development at the NT Studio via our Generate programme, which aims to develop work that’s destined for stages outside the capital. With Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch at the helm, we can’t wait for audiences across England to step into the ring.”

For more information and tickets visit www.thelowry.com.

ENDS

For further information or to arrange interviews contact jennifer.dean@thelowry.com. For hi-res images visit www.flickr.com

LISTINGS

Roy Williams’ SUCKER PUNCH

The Lowry, Salford

1 — 6 May 2023

NOTES TO EDITORS

Cast

Christian Alifoe playing Troy

Shem Hamilton playing Leon

John Rogers playing Tommy

Wayne Rollins playing Squid

Liam Smith playing Charlie

Ray Strasser-King playing Ray

Poppy Winter playing Becky

Creatives

Writer Roy Williams

Director Nathan Powell

Designer Sandra Falase

Lighting Designer Joshie Harriette

Sound Designer Duramaney Kamara

Movement Director Asha Jennings-Grant

Costume Supervisor Malena Arcucci

Boxing Coach Gary Cooke

Fight Director Enric Ortuño

Casting Director Christopher Worrall

Wellness Coach Michelle Richards

Assistant Director Tosin Alabi

About Theatre Nation Partnerships

Theatre Nation Partnerships is a collaborative network of arts organisations aiming to strengthen their relationships with local audiences, schools, and communities. Convened by the National Theatre, the network is made up of theatres and creative organisations in 13 priority areas of England. Across the next three years, the network’s focus will be on welcoming new audiences to theatre and creating more opportunities for people to engage, supporting long-term health of local theatre audiences. The Theatre Nation Partnerships network will reach 500,000 targeted audiences, young people, and community groups over the next three years.