SNIPPETS of conversations overheard in the theatre bar before the main event were centred around boxing.

Whether it was the recent defeat of Anthony Joshua by Andy Ruiz Jr, or the day a working class local lad became a world champion, this was not your average theatre crowd.

The audience, mostly middle aged men, had come to see a new play charting the early boxing career of Glenn McCrory which culminated in him winning the world title on home soil.

On Monday, June 3, it was 30 years to the night.

The Civic Hall in Stanley was the venue, yards away from The Lousia Centre, where North-East sporting history was made.

Carrying David, written by Ed Waugh is based on McCrory’s autobiography, which tells how he was spurred on to sporting glory by the close relationship he formed with his disabled and terminally ill adopted brother.

Ed Waugh said: “It is an incredible feeling to be here because we have been working on this for years so it is very special that this night has arrived.

“The actor who plays Glenn has been working out and Glenn has been showing him the moves so a lot of people have worked very hard to put this production together.”

Brought up in a large Catholic family, the young McCrory would give David, who suffered from Friedrich’s ataxia, a piggyback to get them to school on time, and defend him from bullies.

McCrory starting boxing age12 in Consett and his younger brother became his biggest fan, charting his career in a scrap book as the press dubbed him ‘the white Frank Bruno’.

The play is an emotional journey, explaining how the young McCrory dealt with personal and professional challenges to defeat Patrick Lumumba after 12 rounds to be crowned champion in front of a home crowd at the age of 24.

The sense of local pride in the achievement was palpable and at the end of the show the audience was on its feet.

Actor Micky Cochrane, who played the young fighter in the one-man show, said: “I was a bit nervous because I know all of his family and friends were going to be in but the reaction has been fantastic.

“By the time I got to the end I was exhausted. I feel as though I have been in a 12 round fight myself.”

After the show, to rapturous applause, Glenn McCrory, now 54, was invited on stage by director Russell Floyd, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers.

Afterwards McCrory posed for pictures with fans and signed copies of his autobiography.

He said: “I am honoured, privileged and blessed that my story was told here in Stanley 30 years after it happened.

“What an amazing evening and what a performance.

“My mum was here and she loved it. David would have been proud.”

Carrying David is at Whitley Bay Playhouse on Thursday, Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on Friday and Westovian Theatre in South Shields on Saturday. Tickets are £16 from venues or via wisecrackproductions.co.uk