Cornermen

Oli Forsyth’s Cornermen, directed by David Wotton, is a punchy mix of humour, drama, and moral tension set in the brutal world of boxing. Three down-on-their-luck coaches, Mickey (Daniel Doherty), Joey (Arran Hogg), and Drew (Ruairi Francis McCormack), pin their hopes on Sid (Liam Scobie), a raw but gifted fighter. However, as Sid’s career takes off, the question lingers: are they guiding, or exploiting him?
What makes Cornermen electrifying is not just its sharp writing but its immersive staging. The audience sits inside the action: before each fight Sid charges down the central aisle to the ‘ring’ where the imagined boxing bout takes place behind the audience, while the coaches shout directions and encouragement from the stage, turning the theatre into a live boxing arena.

While Sid is battling for his career, it is the trio of coaches who drive the show. Joey the steady “pad man,” balances comic warmth with genuine care for Sid, Drew wrestles with his conscience, offering a moral counterweight to Mickey’s ruthless ambition. And Mickey, the relentless head coach, powers the drama with his hunger for victory, leaving us to question whether success is worth the cost. As its title suggests, this clever show reveals to the audience the dark world which the cornermen inhabit, heavy with pressure and fraught with ethical dilemmas. It is refreshing to see a show that focuses on an aspect of boxing of which people are not aware, giving an insight into the gritty pressures and exploitation of talents which take place away from the spotlight.

Forsyth’s script blends laughter with unease, as the coaches’ banter gradually morphs into tension. Under Wotton’s brisk direction, the play crackles with energy, its humour, pace, and emotional heft landing like clean jabs. Cornermen isn’t just about boxing; it’s about ambition, loyalty, and the price of success and it is no wonder this gutsy show won the Bright Spark Award at the Scottish Theatre Awards. With its inventive staging and knockout performances, it’s a Fringe must-see that lingers long after the final bell.

Woohoo moment: The cleverly arranged staging citing the fighting action down the central aisle and behind the audience, bringing us into the action.

Review by Michael Macduff – Woohoo! A Good Review!