A knockout cast has been announced for hard-hitting new drama Champion which plays at Live Theatre from Thursday 13 February…
Bringing Ishy Din’s punchy drama to life are Christina Berriman Dawson (The Odyssey), Jack Robertson (Gerry & Sewell) and newcomer Daniel Zareie.
Christina Berriman Dawson, who recently appeared in The Little Mermaid at Newcastle Theatre Royal, plays the role of matriarch Sheila. Christina has worked in theatre throughout the North East, nationally and internationally.
Whitley Bay born Jack Robertson takes on the role of Billy. Jack wrote and starred in his own BBC short Where It Ends which was nominated for a BAFTA and starred in hit comedy Gerry & Sewell (Live Theatre and Theatre Royal Newcastle). He had roles on Danny & Mick for CBBC, ITVs Inspector George Gently and Will Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth.
Making his professional and Live Theatre stage debut as Azeem is Daniel Zareie. Currently training at Newcastle Theatre Royal’s yearlong actor training course Project A, during which he performed in the chorus of the critically acclaimed Gerry and Sewell, in Berkoff’s TheBow of Ulysses as well as Dennis Kelly’s Orphans.
About Champion at Live Theatre
Set during the transformative and now legendary 1977 visit to the North East of iconic boxer Muhammad Ali, this searing new family drama shows the profound effect that such a major event has on a mixed race family on South Shields.
Brothers Azeem and Billy, along with their mother Sheila, grapple with upheaval as feelings of identity, community, and personal struggles take centre stage.
Director Jack McNamara said:
“Ishy’s play is so rich and meaty that we needed actors bursting with soul to play it. These three blew me away, and I’m particularly excited since I haven’t worked with them before.
“Nothing better than starting the new year with new faces. It is also an honour that this will be Daniel Zareie’s professional debut. I am sure it will be the start of a long career.”
Ishy Din said:
“It’s such a privilege to be working with these three amazing actors and to be doing so at Live Theatre, with its rich and illustrious history of telling local stories that have an impact on a wider world, is a huge privilege.
“When Live Theatre approached me to write a play for its main stage my mind immediately went to Mohammed Ali’s 1977 visit to South Shields. It was the only place I could see this story fit and I hope I honour not only the great man himself but the South Shields community that embraced him.”
The opener of the 2025 season at Live Theatre, Champion by Ishy Din plays from Thursday 13 February to Saturday 8 March 2025 with tickets priced from £10 to £30. For more information and to book tickets go to live.org.uk