Liverpool boxing legend John Conteh takes centre stage at Royal Court

Liverpool boxing legend John Conteh takes centre stage in a new drama set to come to the city’s Royal Court next spring.

Conteh, written by and starring actor Aron Julius, will be premiered at the Roe Street theatre from April 17 to May 3.

Ten-years-old and fighting out of a club in Kirkby. Nineteen and winning gold at the Commonwealth Games. Twenty-four and becoming the light heavyweight champion of the world.

But that’s only half the story. In the 1970s and 80s, boxer John Conteh was one of the best-known people in the city. He lived the highest of high lives and wrung every ounce of pleasure from his sporting success.

He was a friend to many. Perhaps too many, and some were quick to take advantage.

Conteh is described as an “incredible blow by blow drama” about the life of one of Liverpool’s sporting greats. A mix of sporting and personal highs and lows, it promises to leave its audience understanding the man like never before.

RADA-trained Aron Julius is already well-known to Royal Court audiences for his appearances in Our Day Out and Boys from the Blackstuff.

He says: “I wanted to write Conteh because I’ve always loved boxing, not just as a sport but where character, resilience, and struggle are under the microscope.

“John Conteh’s story, though too often overshadowed by controversy, struck me as one that deserved to be remembered, celebrated, and honoured for the greatness he achieved both inside and outside the ring.

“Writing Conteh became my way of making sure his legacy isn’t forgotten. At the same time, it was a chance for me to create my own work as an actor- something personal, challenging, and rooted in a story I truly believe in.”

The play will be directed by Julius’s Boys from the Blackstuff co-star Mark Womack.

Conteh is at Liverpool’s Royal Court between April 17 and May 3, 2026. Tickets HERE