Prize Fighter — La Boite and Brisbane Festival
The Helpmann Award-nominated play hits the road.
Overview
Prize Fighter caused a stir when it premiered at La Boite theatre in 2015. The first play of Congolese refugee Future D. Fidel, it tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a boy named Isa, himself a Congolese refugee, who uncovers a talent for boxing. Poised to win the national title, he has to overcome the horrors of his past — losing his family and being enlisted as a child soldier to the army that killed them — to beat his opponents. It received rave reviews and was nominated for Best Play and Best New Australian Work at the 2016 Helpmann Awards.
On Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14, La Boite is bringing the production to the Logan Entertainment Centre as part of Brisbane Festival. It features nearly all of the original cast, though Sophie Emberson-Bain has been replaced by Zindzi Okenyo (from Play School and OKENYO). Okenyo joins Pacharo Mzembe, who is again playing Isa, plus Margi Brown-Ash and Gideon Mzembe.
Image: Dylan Evans.