Muhammad Ali’s audacity, as he shocked the world by knocking out George Foreman, his seemingly unbeatable rival, to regain the world heavyweight title in Kinshasa in 1974, offers an evocative backdrop for an enjoyable night of immersive theatre written by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu and directed by Miguel H Torres Umba. A London warehouse is turned into the capital of Zaire, as the Democratic Republic of Congo was known then, and an unusual cast of characters mingles with the audience.
David Frost, the television host brought back to life with a wry touch by Timothy O’Hara, ambles over to introduce himself while the aroma of a Congolese food stall and the slinky sound of soukous fills one side of the arena, where Ali entertains the locals with his bravado and wit. The promoter Don King, played by Elliot Rodriguez in the night’s most convincing performance, oozes bullshit and menace as he favours Foreman, the champion.
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