BOOKING NOW: MUST SEE EVENT

Alfie’s First Fight

Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, Oct 28. Tickets: 01723 370541 or via sjt.uk.com

A one-man show for ages five-plus about love, loss, family and boxing visits Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre this month.

Inspired by writer and performer Oliver Sykes’ own experiences of growing up without a mum and being coached as an amateur boxer by his dad, Alfie’s First Fight tells the story of shy 12-year-old Alfie.

When Alfie’s older brother Jacob goes missing moments before the Golden Gloves Championship – the biggest boxing match of his life – he puts his fears aside and goes to investigate. Who is the bear-like Big Man and the cigarsmoking Posh Man? What do they want with Jacob? And how will anyone ever compete in the ring against ultimate teenage warrior, the Boy Giant? On the surface, it’s a simple adventure story about goodies and baddies and the drama of the boxing ring, but it is also about love, loss, family and learning how to fight for what you want.

Alfie’s First Fight delivers punchy, high-energy storytelling with just the right amount of audience participation. For Sykes who grew up a keen amateur boxer, it’s a very personal tale. One of six siblings, he was brought up in poverty in rural Derbyshire by a single-parent father. His family lived on a council estate on the breadline, receiving clothing donations from local charities, income support and free school meals.

Inspired to aim high by his book-loving dad, Sykes went on to graduate with a first-class degree from Lancaster University. Through the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries, ringfenced for high-achieving arts graduates from low-income families, he took on a paid internship at Contact Theatre, Manchester, and became a theatre and creative project producer. He has now turned his hand to writing and live performance.

Alfie's First Fight is based on Sykes’ first book of the same name, published last year. His second book, Fishing For Rainbows, came out last spring.

“Alfie's First Fight is the kind of tale that you don’t very often see on stage,” he says.

“It’s a relatable, working-class story about a loving and supportive non-traditional family who love boxing. It’s a story about coming of age, fighting our fears and being who we always wanted to be.”