Narc. Magazine Online
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Jacob Easton enjoys a production infused with hope and belonging
Raw and inspiring, Ishy Din’s Champion struck decisively in a remarkable piece riddled with questions of belonging, hope and a far greater, far more insidious fight, than that which can be found within boxing.
The fight that Ishy explores, with love, tension and a typically outstanding technical design by Live Theatre, is outside of the ring. South Shields 1977 to be exact. A place engulfed in communal celebration for a Queen’s Silver Jubilee, but also a dangerous and confusing place for mixed raced brothers Billy/Bilal (Jack Robertson) and Azeem (Daniel Zareie).
Sheltered by their widowed white mother Sheila (Christina Berriman Dawson) and encouraged to put out the bunting, the boys – Bilal in particular – must decide how far they will weigh their own identity, with their need for assimilation in a lonely and racist world.
Lighting the way is Muhammad Ali, the insightful and poetic genius whose essence seemed to infuse every great aspect of the performances. Daniel Zareie was brilliant as younger brother Azeem, and his character rose in stature throughout. Christina Berriman Dawson delivered a wonderfully layered performance biting with impact and Jack Robertson carried the play with a perfectly defined and hard-hitting character arc that ensured a knock out.
Against a backdrop of suffering, Ali’s famous visit to Shields is rightfully crowned as a moment of hope, of belonging and exposure. The greatest success of this play, is that it repeats this feat.
Champion is at Live Theatre, Newcastle until Saturday 8th March.
