Writer: Kevin Cotter
Director: Harry Burton
Set in a gym in the East End of London, the life of an ex-boxer, criminal and justice hunter is put under the spotlight. Although the boxing bag in the corner of the stage is used frequently throughout the show, it’s Dan Hildebrand’s performance that packs the biggest punch of all.
Ronnie (Dan Hildebrand) begins his story with his time in borstal, where his flair for boxing was first recognised. Competing professionally, his future looked bright, despite his parents’ distaste for the concept of earning money through fighting. But when a tragic blow kills his opponent in the ring, his career is quickly stopped short, forcing him to turn to the only other thing he knows – petty crime. He joins a syndicate with other local small-time gangsters, robbing building societies and anything else that gets them their readies. The police are mostly happy to look the other way for the smaller jobs in return for a monetary contribution, less likely to step in for the heavier stuff, which his next job, killing a child abuser, would definitely fall under.
Hildebrand is a masterful storyteller – immediately captivating the audience and keeping them hooked throughout. Throughout the monologue, he energetically and impressively works out on the on-stage gym, press-ups, skipping and bicep curls, not hindering his ability to perform his piece in the slightest. At various points throughout, he references other characters –teachers, friends and family, and although many are just mentioned by name, he occasionally embodies them, deftly switching into completely different people with expert accents and characterisations.
Kevin Cotter’s protagonist’s occasional derogatory remarks are unexpectedly woven into the script, showing he’s definitely typical of the ‘old East End’. While Robbie’s life of crime is disappointing, his upbringing gives some form of explanation: the flippant remarks of abuse in school and the broken relationship with his parents singed with a stiff upper lip sadness, though his tough, uncaring persona never lets the emotion fully take hold. His other accounts of child abusers are uncomfortable, the depictions graphic enough to rouse, without being indelicate. The anger is palpable, shifting the tension between stories and juggling the atmosphere well.
Harry Burton’s direction ensures the pacing flows without interruption, the lighting contributing to the intensity of various scenes – a singular spotlight silhouetting Hildebrand in one scene, bathing him in red in another, creating a visual intensity that matches the script perfectly. A hard-hitting script accompanied by a fantastic performance.
Runs until 29 April 2025
The Reviews Hub Score
Masterful Storyteller
