{"id":474238,"date":"2026-04-18T09:22:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T08:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=474238"},"modified":"2026-04-18T09:22:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T08:22:23","slug":"new-play-celebrating-local-boxing-legend-sir-henry-cooper-opens-next-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/new-play-celebrating-local-boxing-legend-sir-henry-cooper-opens-next-month\/","title":{"rendered":"New play celebrating local boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper opens next month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>A new play celebrating the boxing legend, Sir Henry Cooper, will open at Lewisham\u2019s The Fellowship Inn in May, <em>writes Tom Appleby\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDancing In The Mirror\u201d follows the life of the young boxer, and will be performed in the icon\u2019s former training ground.&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>His nephew, opera singer, Neal Cooper, will play his uncle in the production on 22-23 May.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969.jpg 900w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969-700x392.jpg 700w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969-450x252.jpg 450w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry_Cooper_1969-350x196.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard.jpg 900w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard-700x392.jpg 700w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard-450x252.jpg 450w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Henry-Coopers-1973-Ferrari-365-GT-22-could-fetch-70000-at-Coys_2-Ph-Martyn-Goddard-350x196.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The show will be directed by Thomas Guthrie, an award-winning British director and musician, and is written by Rhik Samadder, the Sunday Times best-selling author, in his playwriting debut.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtODQ3OTAwODAiIGNsYXNzPSJzb3V0aC1jb250ZW50IHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiIHN0eWxlPSJtYXJnaW4tbGVmdDogYXV0bzttYXJnaW4tcmlnaHQ6IGF1dG87dGV4dC1hbGlnbjogY2VudGVyOyI+PCEtLSAgLzE1NDcyNTA3MCwyMjY5NDE5Njk2OS9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzL3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3MgLS0+DQo8ZGl2IGlkPSJkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC0yeDEnKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The performance will also feature a cast of professional actors as well as 40 community members of the <a href=\"https:\/\/musicandtheatreforall.org\/portfolio\/lewishams-creative-chorus\/\">Lewisham Creative Chorus.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guthrie said: \u201cWorking with Rhik, the Lewisham Creative Chorus and the whole creative team here has been extraordinary. We can grow from project to project in a way that isn&#8217;t possible in a one-off production. Dancing in the Mirror&nbsp;is the fruit of many lives&#8217; work &#8211; and an enormous joy.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNTYyNDkyNDM3IiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHU5IHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Ij4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTknKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Sir Henry, who passed away on May 1 2011 aged 77.He is the only British boxer to have been awarded a knighthood. He was twice voted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and is best known for his 1963 fight against Muhammad Ali.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Henry later became friends with Ali, who passed away in 2016. Ali admitted he was hit so hard in fight that \u201chis ancestors in Africa felt it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Henry-Cooper-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3638\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper.jpg 900w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper-700x392.jpg 700w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper-450x252.jpg 450w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Henry-Cooper-350x196.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In 2008 Sir Henry Cooper unveiled his own Blue Plaque at the Thomas A Beckett pub, a place where in his own words he &#8220;sweated for many an hour and lost loads of blood&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Blue Plaque scheme, run by the \u2018News\u2019 and Southwark Heritage in association with Southwark Council, commenced in 2002 and by September 2008 40 plaques had already been erected in the borough, with Sir Henry\u2019s being the first to be put up on the Old Kent Road.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNjIzOTc0MDQiIGNsYXNzPSJzb3V0aC1pbi1hcnRpY2xlLW1wdS0xMCBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1MTAiPg0KPHNjcmlwdD4NCmdvb2dsZXRhZy5jbWQucHVzaChmdW5jdGlvbigpIHsgZ29vZ2xldGFnLmRpc3BsYXkoJ2Rpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1MTAnKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>A host of old boxers and dignitaries gathered to honour the boxing legend, whose family lived in Elsted Road, Walworth, when he was born. Later on in life he lived at Daneville Road, Camberwell, and was clearly delighted with the award from the people who live in the borough he cherished. He said at the time: \u201cIt just a pleasure to come back here and see so many familiar faces. They are older but they all have their hearts in the right places. It is great to be honoured in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking to the \u2018News\u2019 after the ceremony Sir Henry explained that although he moved out of the borough as a young boy, he would often return, not just to train but to visit his many relatives that lived near the boxing gym.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"ONtY73TFKvrqyEtDxu2GXSDEIor8Mb4ZBGi0c705Vzpo3lhxKzkmBw5kCFXSRfCLlv9IHpQLwQeNJP46dgq\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"HY2jxz8sAZ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/ten-years-ago-sir-enrys-blue-plaque-was-first-for-the-old-kent-road\/\">TEN YEARS AGO: Sir \u2018Enry\u2019s Blue Plaque was first for the Old Kent Road<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;TEN YEARS AGO: Sir \u2018Enry\u2019s Blue Plaque was first for the Old Kent Road&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/ten-years-ago-sir-enrys-blue-plaque-was-first-for-the-old-kent-road\/embed\/#?secret=Tjp9PdLt0m#?secret=HY2jxz8sAZ\" data-secret=\"HY2jxz8sAZ\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The production \u201cDancing In The Mirror\u201d also marks the centenary of the theatre and pub, The Fellowship Inn.\u00a0The community arts hub has hosted concerts by Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton and John Mayall &amp; the Bluesbreakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>The play will take place at 3pm and 7pm on 22 and 23 May, at <a href=\"https:\/\/fellowshipinn.co.uk\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/fellowshipinn.co.uk\/\">The Fellowship Inn<\/a> with tickets at \u00a317.00.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"bqAZDikjtGT5HSYQRwOMyPzhlxof32\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"YGLONTpvyb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/history\/history-plus\/meet-the-archaeologists-who-uncover-the-incredible-history-of-southwarks-roman-and-medieval-remains\/\">Meet the archaeologists who uncover the incredible history of Southwark\u2019s Roman and medieval remains<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Meet the archaeologists who uncover the incredible history of Southwark\u2019s Roman and medieval remains&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/history\/history-plus\/meet-the-archaeologists-who-uncover-the-incredible-history-of-southwarks-roman-and-medieval-remains\/embed\/#?secret=YE2lZc45PS#?secret=YGLONTpvyb\" data-secret=\"YGLONTpvyb\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new play celebrating the boxing legend, Sir Henry Cooper, will open at Lewisham\u2019s The Fellowship Inn in May, writes Tom Appleby\u2026 \u201cDancing In The Mirror\u201d follows the life of the young boxer, and will be performed in the icon\u2019s former training ground.&nbsp; His nephew, opera singer, Neal Cooper, will play his uncle in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18769,"featured_media":474321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"His nephew, opera singer, Neal Cooper, will play his uncle in the production on 22-23 May"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"9635"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[13593,42,7375,13539,15718,18246,13602,18168,9635,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-474238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boxing","category-camberwell","category-community","category-featured","category-lewisham","category-lifestyle","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-south-london","category-walworth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18769"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474238"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":477992,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474238\/revisions\/477992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}