Roy Williams' new play is filled with brawn, sweat and tears. Telling the story of two black friends growing up in the '80s, who break into a gym one evening and feel the wrath of the manager. Having been forced to clean the place in return for not dobbing them into the police, Troy (Anthony Welsh) and Leo (Daniel Kaluuya) show their skills as fighters and the gym manager takes them on. With fighting scenes that are perfectly choreographed and two actors whose fitness knows no bounds, this performance has a raw, intense energy that takes you directly into the lives of the two friends. Eventually pitched against each other, Troy and Leo have changed, becoming angry people in their own right. With people against the friends at every corner, Sucker Punch shows the plight of young black men in the '80s, in the face of racism and a lack of options. None of their role models are a good example and the friends loose their way. The stage at the Royal Court is transformed into a complete boxing ring and it is fantastic to watch Welsh and Kaluuya work together within it.

NB: Sucker Punch runs till 31/07.