Promotional Information

Roy Williams’ gripping new play is a tale of growing up, lifelong loyalties and how sometimes, it is possible to choose your own family.

About the Author

Roy Williams, OBE, worked as an actor before turning to writing full-time in 1990. He graduated from Rose Bruford in 1995 with a first class BA Hons degree in Writing and participated in the 1997 Carlton Television screenwriter's course. His plays include The No Boys Cricket Club (Theatre Royal, Stratford East, 1996); Starstruck (Tricycle Theatre, London, 1998); Lift Off (Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, 1999); Night and Day (Theatre Venture, 1996); Josie's Boys (Red Ladder Theatre Co., 1996); Souls (Theatre Centre, 1999); Local Boy (Hampstead Theatre, 2000); The Gift (Birmingham Rep/Tricycle Theatre, 2000); Clubland (Royal Court, 2001); Fallout (Royal Court Theatre, 2003); Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (National Theatre, 2002, 2004); Little Sweet Thing (New Wolsey, Ipswich/ Nottingham Playhouse/Birmingham Rep, 2005), Slow Time (National Theatre Education Department tour, 2005), Days of Significance (Swan Theatre, Stratfordupon- Avon, 2007), Absolute Beginners (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 2007), Joe Guy (Tiata Fahodzi/Soho Theatre, 2007), Baby Girl (National Theatre, 2007), Out of the Fog (Almeida Theatre, 2007), There's Only One Wayne Matthews (Polka Theatre, 2007), Category B (Tricycle Theatre, 2009) and Sucker Punch (Royal Court, 2010). He also contributed A Chain Play (Almeida Theatre, 2007), Sixty Six (Bush Theatre, 2011), Advice for the Young at Heart (UK tour, 2013) and Kingston 14 (Theatre Royal Stratford East, 2014). He was awarded the OBE for Services to Drama in the 2008 Birthday Honours List.

Reviews

Roy Williams has a deserved reputation as one of the most exciting writers working today whose plays have electrified the sort of audiences most theatres rarely see: streetwise urban youth. 'His plays have brought the experience of black urban youth onto the stage.
*Observer*

Williams articulates key aspects of the experience of black British youth in the Eighties in a way that feels fresh and authentic. He handles the issues smartly; the writing is taut, and there are some stinging lines. As a theatrical spectacle, Sucker Punch packs a meaty one-two.
*Evening Standard on Sucker Punch*