Last week an all-star cast was announced for Raymond “Fight” Beck, the next production by the newly founded national theatre, Teatru Malta in association with Spazju Kreattiv, and Andre Mangion through the support of the Malta Arts Fund. The production is penned by Teatru Malta’s emerging writer for 2018, Mangion, a young writer and thespian who has shown great potential through his career.

Raymond “Fight” Beck is a script dealing with the local boxing scene but not just. The story is now being turned into a fighting fit production which is set to premiere at St James Cavalier theatre on Saturday, 10 March.

“It gets you laughing, but also throws punches at you. In the end, Mangion’s story is set to leave audiences gasping for air and begging for one last punch,” said Sean Buhagiar, the national theatre’s artistic director who is directing the production.

The original piece is ultimately not just a play about the unequivocal sportsmanship displayed between the two protagonist boxers from Żejtun; it’s a production about life and the trials and tribulations that come with it.

Classicism, corruption and so much more happens between each nail-biting round in the ring.

Mangion sheds a light on the troubled pasts and presents of his characters, with the boxing ring as their stage to let off blood, sweat and tears. “This story has been a long time coming but it was all worth it. It’s a bit like training. You train, and train, until you’re better than you could have ever imagined. I hope the audience loves it as much as I do. That would be our victory,” said an excited Mangion.

Established actor, John Montanaro takes on the lead role of Raymond while local heartthrob Davide Tucci plays his opponent Dyson Cumbo, the show’s antagonist. The actors have been training with professional boxer Super Steve Martin for months, in anticipation of the premiere, adopting the seasoned tricks of the trade from the local boxers who know them best.

There’s no time to waste here, early bird tickets are already flying off the shelves of boxing gyms and out of the hands of authorised Teatru Malta runners. With the box office for the event open at Spazju Kreattiv, it’s time to get your boxing gloves on and fight because tickets promise to sell fast.

The cast also features theatre stalwarts like Lilian Pace Vassallo, Philip Mizzi, Peter Galea and It-Triccas who is joined by audience favourite Hector Bruno who takes on a different role to what he became accustomed too. The likes of Kim, Dalli Ray Abdilla, Toni Busuttil complete a renowned cast which is bound to knock out the audience.

The production runs for nine shows between 10 and 18 March.

More details and online bookings can be done on www.teatrumalta.org.mt. Spazju Kreattiv box office can be contacted on 2122 3200.