Book description
"Right, you know the rules, watch the low blows, if it's a knock
down, no messing about, go straight to your corner, and don't come out
till called for, are we clear? Touch gloves, let's go." In the red
corner: Leon Davidson - Black British champ or Uncle Tom? In the blue
corner: Troy Augustus - American powerhouse or naive cash cow? Having
spent their youth in the same London boxing gym, vying for the
favouritism of inspirational, foul-mouthed trainer Charlie Maggs, the
two former friends step into the ring and face up to who they are.
Boxing has dominated their lives with an unhoped-for structure and
meaning, but it becomes clear that it is no substitute for their health,
family, and friends. Roy Williams' Sucker Punch looks back on what it
was like to be young and Black in the 80s and asks if the right battles
have been fought, let alone won. With vivid characters, the play is by
turns tender, shocking and funny. The boxing subject endows it with a
tremendous energy and sets up strong, nuanced dialectics for the
characters to tussle with. There is conflict, tension and excitement but
also very real characters, drawn with sympathy and un-idealised
affection. Roy Williams began writing plays in 1990 and is now
arguably one of the country's leading dramatists. In 2000 he was the
joint-winner of The George Devine Award and in 2001 he was awarded the
Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright. He was awarded the
OBE for Services to Drama in the 2008 Birthday Honours List. His Plays
include Category B (Tricycle Theatre), Angel House (Eclipse Theatre, UK
Tour), Days Of Significance (RSC), Joe Guy (Tiata Fahodzi), There's Only
One Wayne Matthews (Polka Theatre), Baby Girl (NT Connections), Absolute
Beginners (Lyric Hammersmith), Little Sweet Thing (Nottingham
Playhouse), Slow Time (NT Education), Fallout (Royal Court Theatre),
Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads (NT), Clubland (Royal Court Theatre),
The Gift (Birmingham Rep/Tricycle Theatre), Local Boy (Hampstead
Theatre), Souls (Theatre Centre), Life Off (Royal Court) , Starstruck
(Tricycle, Winner Of John Whiting Award, Alfred Fagon Award & Emma
Award For Best Play), Josie's Boy (Red Ladder Theatre Co) and The
No-Boys Cricket Club (Theatre Royal, Stratford East).
