Going For Gold, Park Theatre Review

Jazz Lintott and Nigel Boyle in Going For Gold. Photo by James Potter.

Written by Bronagh for Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

Content warnings: racial slurs, scenes of violence, strong language, themes of adverse mental health, drug use and strobe lighting

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Going for Gold is based on the life story of Frankie Lucas, a young man from St Vincent who comes to the UK and dreams of becoming a big time boxer. He never quite became a household name but could have been. The path isn’t linear, with Frankie’ Olympic dreams crashing down, his family life falling apart and falling into despair. 

We enter Park90, one of the Park Theatre’s two theatre spaces, and are presented with a familiar homely set up which also doubles as a boxing ring. This is where we meet policeman/boxing coach Ken (Cyril Blake), who has set up his Croydon club to help keep local lads out of mischief, and Windrush era Frankie (Jazz Lintott) nine years old and fresh off the boat from St Vincent. This marks the beginning of a partnership, with Frankie showing passion and promise for the sport. Later on, when Frankie goes pro, he starts being coached by George (Nigel Boyle). George has his work cut out, trying to get Frankie to remain patient assuring his time will come. 

Enter Gene (Llewella Gideon), Frankie’s girlfriend and later mother of his son Michael (later played by Daniel Francis-Swaby). Gene acts as the narrator of Going for Gold, very reasonable and level headed, mortified that Frankie has spent £12 on a shirt for Frankie when they can barely afford food. Llewella delivered her lines with such sincerity, as well as some wicked comedic timing. A joy to watch.

Lintott embodies the characteristics and movements of a boxer, light as a feather on his feet and sparring with both imaginary and real components. He bounces around the ring effortlessly, Philip J Morris and Xanthus’s direction really coming through. Lintott is great fun to watch in this role, all the way from playing Lucas at nine years old up until he is in the care home. I will say, that I half feel like I should have felt more sorry for him than I did after watching the show. Of course, lots were touched on; the racial slurs, the frustration of not getting to fight in the Olympics, and the marijuana use which led to his downfall but I still feel like I should have sympathised more. When you strip it back, when you research Frankie Lucas yourself, he actually really had a difficult time and a rather sad end to his life. Theatre is subjective and who knows – maybe the person sat next to me or in front of me felt completely different in this regard.

Going for Gold came in at nearly two and a half hours, with a twenty-minute interval. I found the first act to be well-paced and a really enjoyable watch. The second act, however, did feel like a slog, particularly after the drama of the first act keeping us on our toes.  I totally get why Lisa Lintott wrote the show in this way, focusing the second act on Michael spending time with his father while he is in a care home. At times this was profound as well as lovely, and I do get it, but it just didn’t quite land as much for me. The ending, however, was worth the wait rounding off an enjoyable production.

Going for Gold certainly packs a punch, pardon the pun. Taking into consideration my biggest gripe – which was how slow the second act felt – I still rate this show highly which is very telling!  The cast, writing and direction are absolutely brilliant, making this show well worth watching. 

At the Park Theatre until 30th November 2024.
★★★★