“Shadow Boxing” Delivers a Knockout Blow: One-Man Show Explores Identity, Violence, and Resilience
By Alex Carter, World-Today-News.com
A young boxer’s world is irrevocably shattered when a deeply personal secret is exposed. This is the compelling premise of Shadow Boxing, a gripping new solo work by writer James Gaddas and director Teresa Izzard, currently captivating audiences with its raw emotional power.
The play centers on Flynn, a fighter grappling with both physical opponents in the ring and the internal battle that erupts when he is outed. Shadow Boxing doesn’t shy away from the complexities of masculinity, sexuality, violence, and the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability.
What makes this production truly remarkable is the tour-de-force performance of Samuel Addison, who embodies a staggering 15 distinct characters within the confines of a stark, evocative boxing gym setting. Addison’s physicality and emotional depth bring Gaddas’s script to life with breathtaking intensity, laying bare the profound cost of survival in a society often quick to judge.
Having already garnered critical acclaim during successful runs in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney – including a Weekly Prize win in the Theater and Performance category at FRINGE WORLD 2024 - Shadow Boxing is now back for a powerful return season. As magazine 6000‘s Holly Ferguson noted, “I don’t think you’ll find another piece of theatre this polished yet gritty in this year’s Fringe programme.”
this isn’t just a play about boxing; it’s a poignant exploration of the quiet violence of rejection and the extraordinary resilience required to find self-acceptance. Prepare to be moved, challenged, and ultimately, breathless.
Key Creatives:
* Performer: Samuel Addison (as Flynn)
* Writer: James Gaddas
* Director/Producer/Movement Coach: Teresa Izzard
* Associate Producer/Designer/Photography & Graphic Design: Samuel Addison
* Vocal Performance coach: Donald Woodburn
* Composition/Sound Design: Bec Price
* Lighting Design/Operator: Christian Lovelady
Running Time: 55 minutes.
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