Edinburgh Fringe: Bitch Boxer – Underbelly

Writer: Charlotte Josephine

Director: Bryony Shanahan

Reviewer: Deborah Klayman

The Public Reviews Rating:

Packing as much punch as writer/performer Charlotte Josephine can muster, Bitch Boxer is dynamic, dramatic and moving in equal measure. Chronicling Chloe Jackson’s journey to the first female boxing competition ever to be part of the Olympics, this piece has perfect timing on and off the stage, and is underscored by evocatively apt music throughout. Josephine’s Chloe is tough, sympathetic and likeable by turns, making the audience laugh one minute and cry the next as they follow her emotionally-charged odyssey.

Filled with rage after her mum left when she was eleven, Chloe found the discipline and release she needed in the boxing ring, coached by her dad. When she experiences a further loss, she has to decide whether to let life beat her or spur her on, and Josephine fully encapsulates the grit and determination of this young female boxer as she works her way towards the fight of her life. Skipping, sparring and jogging on the spot to accentuate and punctuate her lines she utilises all of the myriad skills at her disposal to draw a well-rounded and believable character that the audience instantly warms to and wills on.

Naturalistic and totally authentic, Josephine’s Chloe is every inch a boxer, physically impressive and emotionally pitch-perfect. Refreshingly she also represents a young woman with healthy relationships with the men in her life, and someone who strives to be better than ever expected of her. This piece is not only superbly performed but is an enjoyable and uplifting story of personal achievement that has been thoughfully written and cleverly staged.

Until 26^th August

Edinburgh Fringe: Bitch Boxer – Underbelly, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating