Marcella star Nicholas Pinnock will step back into the theatrical boxing ring this autumn when he reprises the role of Jay ‘The Sport’ Jackson in The Royale.
Pinnock, who has also been seen in Sky Atlantic’s Fortitude and Channel 4’s Top Boy, previously played the role when The Royale was staged at the Bush Theatre in 2015.
This time around the tale of an African American boxer dreaming of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world will be staged at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill while the Bush’s regular home undergoes a renovation project.
Set in 1905, inspired by the story of Jack Johnson and told over the course of six rounds, The Royale is the story of a one man’s struggle to reach the top in a racially segregated sport.
Writing about Pinnock’s previous performance as Jackson, Official London Theatre’s Charlotte Marshall said: “Forget heavyweight boxer, Nicholas Pinnock proves himself to be a heavyweight performer in a staggering turn as the determined Jay. His phenomenal presence captures all the physical power and pure grace of a great sportsman, while he delivers Ramirez’s fast paced script with compelling charisma bar a few moments of vulnerability that are devastating to witness.”
The Royale is written by Marco Ramirez, a writer who has also worked on cult US TV hits Sons Of Anarchy and Orange Is The New Black. It runs from 3 to 26 November and is directed by the Bush Theatre’s Artistic Director, Madani Younis.