Conteh. Local legend. World Champion
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
★★★★★

KIRBY 1950s, a “new town” where people from Liverpool’s slum dwellings were rehoused miles from where they had spent most of their lives.

Its reputation? Rough neighbourhoods, higher crime rates, significant poverty. Born in 1951, then rehoused from Toxteth, Liverpool 8, John Conteh grew up here.

At 10 years old, he began to take boxing seriously. At 19 years old, he won gold at the Commonwealth Games; at 24 years old, light heavyweight champion of the world. He immediately became a household name in Liverpool.

Written by and also starring Aron Julius, this play develops the truth and struggles of the man behind the myth, the emotions, feelings, friendships with many people who, in turn, saw it as an opportunity to make money.

To begin, up goes the stage safety curtain to reveal a neon-lit boxing ring that, when one side is folded in, becomes a living space, sofa and chairs where words are exchanged, not physical blows.

We share Conteh’s accomplishments in the ring. But we also share the exasperation of his fiancee. All John wants to be is a world champion. But what his fiancee wants is her modelling career back.

Sitting alone, she pleads with us: “I’m not smaller, quieter, someone who will stand in the room and disappear. But I’m the one who stays while he goes.” She pleads with him: “I want a holiday where you don’t punch anyone.”

Conteh then promises to treat her equally so she accepts his proposal of marriage.

Yet in reality, staying in the spotlight meant that he was seldom home with his wife and kids. They bore the brunt of his success. Conteh too was under intense pressure, from his trainer, brother, those who organised events, promoted him, made money.

Unsurprisingly he began to psychologically break down, lost his WBC title, became an alcoholic, had regular sessions with a therapist and was not up for the “return” fight which he fought but again lost.

All of these issues were conveyed on stage in a subtle way, not by big, dramatic events, like when he was set up to meet Princess Anne, apparently she said, “what are you doing here?” He was, after all, a lad from a rough area up north.

In the final scene, Conteh is with his wife Val by the seaside. She lovingly remarks: “I hoped one day you’d come back and you did.” He then reveals that he came back because she was the only one who knocked him out.

Truly together, they walked away from all of the negative pressure. He takes the centre stage and assertively declares to the audience: “I’m an alcoholic. But I’m a fighter. And I’m still here.”

Amazingly, Conteh himself was in the theatre, during the interval posed for selfies with those who wanted to put him on their smartphones. He shared the final moments of the show on stage with the cast to enjoy a deserved standing ovation.

When recently interviewed, he said: “Life is the real boxing ring.” It meant something to a young lad from Kirby to go on and win a boxing world championship but he didn’t foresee the pressures and issues resulting from this.

This terrific show raises lots of real life issues like, when you hit the ground it’s the people around you who help you get back on your feet. Those from impoverished backgrounds can battle their way to success but it’s likely to come at a price.

We are all, by nature, social beings, not celebrities. Learn to deal with life one day at a time and by doing that, move on. A fascinating, revealing, superbly acted evening of theatre.

Until May 9. Liverpool, Box office: (0151) 709-4321, boxoffice@liverpoolsroyalcourt.com.