“When that bell rings, your life is entirely in your hands.” Deep in the heart of Victorian London is a theatre where only the strongest survive.
After a sold-out run at Southwark Playhouse last year, The Sweet Science of Bruising returns to Wilton’s Music Hall, opening on 7 June.
The year is 1869. Controlled by men and constrained by corsets, four very different women are drawn into the dark underground world of female boxing; each finds an unexpected freedom in the ring. As their lives begin to intertwine their journey takes us from grand drawing rooms to rowdy backstreet pubs where the women fight inequality as well as each other. But with the final showdown approaching, only one can become the Lady Boxing Champion of the World…
The Artiscape spoke with Alice Kerrigan about her role in the play.
What are you looking forward to in performing in The Sweet Science of Bruising?
Kerrigan: Being part of a large ensemble and working together on such an epic play at an amazing space like Wilton’s Music Hall! To be able to perform it in such a beautiful and fitting venue is exciting. I also love the fact it’s a female-led story, and even though it is dealing with female struggles in the Victorian times it is ever so relevant today and empowering to be a part of!
Can you describe the character you play?
Kerrigan: I am multi-rolling two characters. The first one being Emily, a young authoress who is a suffragist as opposed to a suffragette; she agrees with feminist ideals but she would prefer to make changes through her lengthy novels. Then I play Nancy, a maidservant who has a close bond with one of the four lady boxers and is put in a very difficult position. Both parts are very contrasting so are great fun to play.
How do you get into the character you are playing?
Kerrigan: As my characters are from different worlds in terms of social status it’s been important to look at how that is shown through different physicality or voice but also how they respond to the people around them and the environment they live in. Joy Wilkinson has created such a detailed world; a lot of clues are there already, which is handy!
What do you think the audience will take away from the play?
Kerrigan: They will leave feeling badass! Firstly, of course, from the boxing matches but, secondly, the passion from each character fighting for what they believe in. It really is a story like no other, and no matter what, I think the heart and hope of the characters will stick with them. It may have them questioning where feminism and equality are heading today and leave them hopeful in how far we have come even if there’s still a way to go in the world.
The Sweet Science of Bruising opens at Wilton’s Music Hall London and runs from 5th June to 29th June.
