Roy Williams’ Sucker Punch revival to tour across England – cast, venues, dates

A new revival of Roy Williams’ Sucker Punch is to tour across England.

The show is to embark on its first major tour across England from March – June 2023 as part of the Theatre Nations 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 – 15 Aril before embarking on a national tour of New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich (18 — 22 April), Curve Theatre Leicester (25 — 29 April), The Lowry Salford (1 — 6 May), Key Theatre Peterborough (8 — 13 May), Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple (15 — 20 May), Theatre Royal Wakefield (22 — 27 May), Cast Doncaster (7 — 10 June), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (12 — 17 June) and The Fire Station Sunderland (21 — 24 June).

First opening in a sell-out production at London’s Royal Court in 2010, this tender, bruising and funny play by leading British playwright Roy Williams brilliantly explores being young and black in the 80s.

Making up the cast are Christian Alifoe (Man vs Bee, Netflix), Shem Hamilton (One Way Out, Theatre Peckham), John Rogers makes his professional theatre debut, 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.

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…

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.

The production will be directed by Nathan Powell with design by Sandra Falase, lighting design by Joshie Harriette, sound design by 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 and 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 added: “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.”

For more information and tickets, visit nationaltheatre.org.uk