Shadow Boxing
Daniel Newton stars in Shadow Boxing, a heavy-hitting one-man show directed by Mdu Kweyama and written by James Gaddas, making its appearance at the Fringe this year. Recently honored with the coveted Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show, Newton expertly brings to life the character of Flynn. Alone on a stage adorned with nothing but a metal bucket, a punching-bag, a worn pair of boxing gloves and a suit jacket, Flynn paints a compelling picture of his journey from a cruel childhood through his rise to boxing stardom, and his tragic fall from grace.
This captivating coming-of-age story revolves around Flynn, a young boxer and the son of a professional boxer whose career never really flourished. Unlike his father, Flynn is resolute in his quest to become a successful, professional boxer, a journey that pushes him to confront the demons of his past and discover his own identity. In his struggle to redefine his inherited perceptions of masculinity, Flynn immerses himself in a gruelling training regime as a means of avoiding his internal turmoil.
2 - 20 Aug
Daily at 14:35
Assembly George Square Studios
(Studio Two)
£8 - £13.50
Age Restriction: 14+
Scenes of a sexual nature, violence, and strong language
Duration: 55 Minutes
“Daniel Newton’s performance as Flynn, the broken boxer, is riveting … Authentic and compelling throughout … Shadow Boxing is a triumph for Newton, an exceptional new talent, and director Mdu Kwyama.” - Call of the Search
“Shadow Boxing tackles universal and relevant themes … intense, emotionally loaded, relevant and stinging … Newton is a talented young actor and certainly one to look out for in the future.”
- Media24
Daniel Newton, a versatile talent who excels in acting, writing, and music, is an alumnus of the University of Cape Town where he completed his BA Honours in Drama and Acting in 2021. Though he began his acting journey in film back in 2016, his professional stage debut was marked by the play Shadow Boxing. In 2023, Daniel's talent was further showcased in Louis Viljoen’s The Visigoths and he made his mark as a playwright and director with The Rangers, which was met with widespread acclaim. His impressive work was recently recognized when he won the coveted Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award.
Mdu Kweyama, renowned as the artistic director of the award-winning Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival, boasts a rich portfolio of achievements including the prestigious Naledi award for Best Actor in a Lead Role and Best Original Choreography for Karoo Moose in 2008. His notable directing work at The Baxter ranges from Most Honest Man, Reza De Wet’s Missing, to Woza Albert and Edward Albee’s The Goat, or who is Sylvia? His talent for direction is now being employed to guide the blossoming acting career of Daniel Newton.
James Gaddas, the son of a wrestler, has built a successful career as an English actor and writer. He is celebrated for his roles in Starter for 10, Jonathan Creek, and Bad Girls. His theatrical credits include a myriad of high-profile productions such as Billy Elliot the Musical, Peter Pan, Spamalot, and Mamma Mia! in London. In addition to his theatre work, he has featured in numerous TV shows including The Bill, Between the Lines, Tracy Beaker Returns, Medics, Dogtown, Doctors, Waterloo Road, Emmerdale, The Girls, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street.