One Woman Boxing Promoter Play Bella to open at Liverpool's Unity Theatre

Liverpool-based actress Denise Kennedy will showcase her one-woman show Bella: Queen of the Blackfriars Ring at Liverpool Unity Theatre next month.

Bella is a show with live music, song, dance, boxing, and film and tells the amazing true story of Bella Burge, a woman who, after having toured the music halls as Marie Lloyd’s dresser, entered the male-dominated world of boxing.

She succeeded in taking over the running of south London boxing venue Blackfriars Ring from her husband, the ex prize-fighter Dick Burge – a promise made to him on his deathbed – until it was destroyed in a WWII air raid in 1940.

With women’s boxing having been introduced as an Olympic sport during London 2012, Bella: Queen of the Blackfriars Ring shows another side to women’s involvement with boxing from 100 years ago. Bella was also caught up in the notorious Liverpool Bank Fraud back at the turn of the last century, big national news at the time.

“When I found out about Bella’s story I was gripped and felt I needed to tell it…A shorter version of the show was performed a couple of years ago and it went down really well. Everyone wanted to see more and were disappointed when it came to an end! I have a great team working with me, including writer Esther Wilson in the role of Dramaturg.” said Denise Kennedy.

Kennedy has been training with Liverpool boxer Daniele Hartley and Chris M at L.A. Fitness. “As it is a one-woman show, I will be playing all the different characters, boxers included. It has been great but incredibly hard work. I am in my late 40s and boxing is one of the most strenuous forms of exercise you can possibly start, especially at my age! I have dance training which has helped me with the footwork and Daniele told me that her dance training made things easier when she started", she said.

Bella: Queen of the Blackfriars Ring is at Liverpool's Unity Theatre from 5 – 6 February.