He's coming to South Shields to help us…….. Muhammad Ali is the people's champion….. Jonny's gone over there to tell him that we need funds for the boys clubs…..he's going to do something for the people….he's like that
Set during the great boxer's now legendary visit to the North East, Champion shows the effect that such a major event has on a mixed race family in South Shields.
The lives of brothers Azeem and Billy and their mother Sheila are turned upside down with feelings of identity and community.
Written by one of contemporary theatre's most regarded writers Ishy Din, this epic tale stirs up the question of what each of us is truly fighting for.
This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere production at Newcastle's Live Theatre in February 2025.
A searing new family drama set in South Shields in 1977 when Muhammad Ali came to town.
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A searing new family drama set in South Shields in 1977 when Muhammad Ali came to town.
Ishy Din is an award winning writer for stage screen and radio Currently he is under commission from the RSC for a new play about the Mughals. Other original projects in development include a crime drama for Lime Pictures, a feature film, FRAUD, through Gurinder Chadhas company Bend It Networks and PAAK UNITED. His most recent play, APPROACHING EMPTY, a co-production between Tamasha/The Kiln/Live Theatre, Newcastle opened at The Kiln in London in January 2019 and toured until April. Other credits for the same year include an episode of SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY (BBC). In 2018 TAXI TALES, produced by Tamasha, was broadcast on BBC2 as part of BBC LIVE, (BAC/ACE/BBC) live theatre broadcast. In 2016/2017, Ishy wrote on C4 series ACKLEY BRIDGE. Ishy Dins first radio play was JOHN BARNES SAVED MY LIFE for BBC Radio 5 Live. Other credits include LIFES LIKE THAT for the the BBC TV and PARKING AND PAKORAS for local radio. His play SNOOKERED toured in 2012 taking in the Traverse Edinburgh and a 4 week run at the Bush Theatre, London.
Ishy was the 2012 Pearson Writer in Residence at the Manchester Royal Exchange and in 2013 Snookered won Best New Play at the Manchester Theatre Awards.
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