Last year saw women’s boxing make its Olympic debut in London. But while the sporting achievements of the likes of Nicola Adams may have been well-documented, this one-woman play by Snuff Box Theatre steps outside the ring to look at how one young boxer copes when life deals her some very nasty blows.

Bitch Boxer follows Chloe as she prepares for the fight that could secure her place in the 2012 Olympics – just a stone’s throw from her home in Leytonstone.

At first glance, she may appear to be a loud-mouthed Londoner, with a brash attitude and a taste for danger. But as the plot unravels, so does Chloe, and we see a tender side to this female fighter, as she comes to terms with the loss of her father and opens her heart to new boyfriend Jamie.

Charlotte Josephine delivers a knockout performance as Chloe, bringing the character to life in all her sweat-drenched glory, capturing both the insecurities of a young woman and her sheer determination to win.

The fight scene is expertly choreographed. The months Josephine spent training with Islington Boxing Club have clearly paid off as she ducks and dives with expert timing and throws her punches with precision and power.

The result is a sweet, funny and thoughtful play that looks beyond the stereotypes to give a rounded portrait of an ambitious young woman, prepared to fight for the things she loves.