Queen’s Theatre’s Knock Out Performance Sucker Punch!

Saturday 1 April saw the opening night for Sucker Punch at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. This is a knock out show that will leave spectators ‘reeling on the ropes’ it is that good.

Written by award winning dramatist Roy Williams, this five star performance highlights the divisive nature of society in 1980’s Britain, particularly London.

The show is set in a boxing gym in south London where white ex-boxer and now gym owner Charlie has taken on two black boys who have potential. However, the two black boys Leon and Troy still feel they are not regarded in the same way that white boxer Tommy is.

There is tension between the three boxers and Tommy goes on to win a title and gets the opportunity to turn professional and leaves Charlie’s gym behind. Whilst Leon and Troy start to get noticed in the ring.

This is a play that highlights the tension between black and white and the struggles during Margaret Thatcher’s Britain. The show includes shouting, swearing and a lot of emotions that really highlights how difficult things were throughout that era.

Gym owner Charlie has a daughter who dates black boxer Leon much to the unhappiness of her father. Charlie gives the boxer the ultimatum-‘If you want to be a title fighter, you do not go out with my daughter.’ In a bitter split and full of sadness, Leon chooses his boxing and leaves Charlie’s daughter Becky behind.

Meanwhile Troy and Leon have also fallen out after a gang situation in south London and Troy has decided to head to America to become a fighter across the water.

Leon makes it as a top boxer and finally becomes professional, winning titles including national championships and discovers that Charlie has met with an American promoter that will see him take on his former friend Troy in a world title fight.

We will not spoil the ending for you!

This really is a knock out punch of a show that is full of emotion on all levels. It is a metaphor of Britain and its times during the 80s.

There is never a dull moment to this performance that is very well written, produced and directed.

The cast are excellent and the stage set really captures the intensity of this show.

Actors Shem Hamilton as Leon, Liam Smith as Charlie, Poppy Winter as Becky, Charlie’s daughter, Christian Alifoe as Troy, Wayne Rollins as Squibb, John Rogers as Tommy and Ray Strasser-King as Ray are all outstanding. The physicality of this show is boundless.

Creatively directed by Nathan Powell with some amazing fight scenes.

Well done to the Queen’s Theatre on this fantastic five star performance that left the audience with a standing ovation, people literally jumped up off their seats to praise the incredible performance they had just witnessed.

On until 15 April.

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