It's been more than 10 years since audiences first met Chloe, a young boxer from Leytonstone coming to terms with the death of her father all while training for her big fight.
Now, following a successful stint at the Watford Palace Theatre, the one-woman show is coming to the Arcola for a fresh run. Written by Charlie Josephine and starring Jodie Campbell of BBC’s Boarders, the show combines the knowledge of industry heavyweights and exciting fresh talent.
The show’s director, Prime Isaac, may be only 26, but has been involved in some of the best-loved shows in the biz. From Headlong’s People, Places and Things to productions of major Shakespeare plays at the Globe, Isaac was even assistant director to Josephine on Cowbois at the RSC.
But directing wasn’t the original plan. Growing up in West London, Isaac initially abandoned any dreams of working in theatre during their time at school and instead considered a career in midwifery.
This came to an abrupt end after a particularly uninspiring open day. The director added: “I called my mum and I said, ‘I’m just going to figure out this whole drama thing’”.
Isaac went on to join START, an accredited six-week performance programme at the Lyric Hammersmith for 16-25-year-olds, where they met Holly Race Roughan - who shortly afterward was appointed artistic director of Headlong.
Isaac said: “[Roughan] was about to do People, Places and Things, and I had just turned 18. She said, ‘You should come and shadow me for a week’.
“I just went, not knowing what People, Places and Things was. I was only meant to be there for a week. I ended up staying for the whole rehearsal period.
“I was just infatuated with this idea of making work and how much effort and research goes into it. This isn’t just people remembering lines and saying them, this is heart”.
What followed was a series of short runs, scratch nights and learning programmes, including a stint as an assistant to the assistant director at the Globe. Over time, the opportunities started to roll in.
“Everything sort of rolled over and fell into itself”, Isaac added. “The more people I met and the more opportunities I got meant I’ve just been able to be in the most amazing rooms, meeting the most amazing people”.
During Bitch Boxer’s original run, Chloe was played by a white woman and was in a straight relationship. But as a Black, queer and non-binary director, Isaac wanted to put a new spin on the show.
“When [I was] getting ready to direct [the show]... Charlie said to me, ‘Make something you would have wanted to see when you were younger’.
“So then I decided to make [the protagonist] Chloe Black and queer, because I was a Black queer woman at one point before I transitioned, and that would have been something really important I would have wanted to see”.
Turns out, it was something a lot of people wanted to see. Off the back of the show’s run in Watford, Isaac was nominated for a Black British Theatre Award. But the director said the response from audiences has been more staggering than any nomination.
Isaac added: “I’m very into the Black, queer scene - that’s where I feel comfortable and who I surround myself with. So going out to the club and bumping into people who were like, ‘Oh my god, I saw your show’, that’s crazy.
“People were saying how much they felt seen and heard, how much they could relate”.
Asked what they wanted audiences to take from the show, Isaac said: “I think a lot of queer Black work is rooted in trauma, and specifically trauma that comes from skin complexion or sexuality.
“And this doesn’t do either of those. The story isn’t about the fact that she’s Black and queer. The fact that she’s Black and queer is just part of who she is, and the fact that that’s not highlighted, I think, is really important.
“With my own personal gender and sexuality journey, I felt like being Black and non-binary was the only thing that mattered. But I’m very much a layered person. We all experience grief.
“Bitch Boxer being my first big solo directing gig has been such a blessing. All the work has really paid off. I know who I am as a director, I know what I want to create, I know what rooms I want to create and I know what kind of people I want in my rooms”.
Bitch Boxer. Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL. 18 February - 14 March. Get tickets here.
