STEPPING INTO THE RING; ROY WILLIAMS’ SUCKER PUNCH ARRIVES AT THE LOWRY, SALFORD FROM TUESDAY 2ND MAY.
Set against a backdrop of Thatcherite politics and the simmering racial tensions in the 1980s, Roy Williams’ Sucker Punch arrives at 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.
Sucker Punch is to part way through its first major tour across England of venues in the Theatre Nation Partnership.
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 is 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
2nd – 6th May 2023
Age Guidance 14+
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.