Davide Tucci, who takes on the role of boxer Tasa Inu Cumbo in the upcoming Teatru Malta production Raymond ‘Fight’ Beck, shares some insights about his character with Ramona Depares.

What can you tell us about your role in Raymond ‘Fight’ Beck?

Son of the mayor of Żejtun, Dyson is a professional boxer. He comes from a wealthy family and thus doesn’t need to worry about his financial stability while pursuing what has become over the years his real passion – boxing! Normally, we are used to seeing boxing as a ‘way out’ from a life of hardship and adversity. With Dyson things are different, he’s not the ‘underdog’ or the one with nothing to lose. In many ways, this makes Dyson even more interesting to me.

With every match, he puts everything on the line: his status, ego, his relationships, reputation, career…

And, unlike the ‘typical’ boxer (or what is perceived as such by the public), Dyson has everything to lose. His father plays a very big role in his life and career as his mentor, and sometimes recreational coach. Dyson had an extremely strict and this has led to a very strong-willed person who would do anything for what, or who he believes in.

His upbringing has also however led to some flaws, some cracks in his persona, which are only evident in a few moments within the play.

What makes this play and this role different from others you’ve taken on?

I was immediately intrigued by Andre Mangion’s script, particularly because of how real the characters he has written are.

On the surface, Dyson might look quite similar to some of the roles I’ve played so far in my career.

However, as I have delved deeper within, I have realised I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The emotional struggle Dyson goes through in Andre’s story – along with the physical training required to achieve the technique necessary to realistically portray a professional boxer who’s been training for most of his life –makes for what I believe is my most challenging theatrical role to date.

And the fact all this happens at the St James Cavalier theatre makes it even more special.

What special preparations did the role involve?

Physically, I generally like to keep myself as fit as possible throughout. It was just a matter of working with my personal coach Daniel Zammit to make a few tweaks to my training regimen to be able to achieve a leaner, but slightly heavier, physique. I started this around October 2017.

The main goal was obviously to look like an athlete who has trained intensely, daily, for the last 15 years for the sole purpose of defeating his opponents. I also had to live up to my character’s ring-name ‘Tosa Inu’.

The Tosa Inu, is pretty much the toughest dog breed on the planet – a Japanese fighting dog, illegal in most countries around the world. The breed has been recorded pulling 1,800kg on its own – quite a reputation. Aside from this, both John Montanaro, who takes the role of the titular Raymond, and myself had to look like we could believably fit in the same weight category of fighters, as that’s how fighters are categorised – by weight.

By November last year we started to undergo heavy torture – ahem, I mean training – from our boxing coach Steve Martin. Joking aside, it was a lot of fun, although very challenging.

Were you interested in boxing before this?

Not at all! Although I always wanted to get into some form of martial art. Still, I never really had the time or opportunity to take that up. That’s why I was really eager and excited to get started.

What has been the biggest challenge to take on this role?

The biggest challenge was and still is, for me, in putting together all I’ve learned throughout these last few months about boxing, the technique. Imbuing the character with the reality behind the role and the world around him, his struggles, the problems he faces… this, to create something which will be appreciated by any audience in an unforgiving theatre such as that of Spazju Kreattiv.

I say unforgiving because, with standard theatres where the stage and the audience are opposite each other, one can get away with so much more. On the other hand, our audience will be all around us, only a few moments away from the action, so there’s no way to get around the punches, there’s no faking it. The punches, the emotions everything is real!

When did you start preparations?

Boxing started in November last year, whereas rehearsals for the show officially started end of February.

That’s where everything started to come together, the ring met the stage and we started to give meaning and context to everything we’ve learnt.

And what is the biggest satisfaction?

My biggest satisfaction is obviously to punch John in the face, multiple times.

I recommend it to everyone actually. If you see Montanaro walking past, just hit him really hard wherever – he’s used to it by now.

Joking aside, the biggest satisfaction will be seeing an impact on our audience, which I hope will be more much than the impact of John’s attempts to hit me. Ok, I’ll stop now.

Raymond ‘Fight’ Beck takes place between March 10 and 18 at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta. Tickets are available online.

http://ticketenginex.kreattivita.org/?eventname=Raymond+Fight+Beck