Punch (play)

Punch
West End Promotional Poster
Written byJames Graham
Based onRight from Wrong by Jacob Dunne
Date premiered4 May 2024
Place premieredNottingham Playhouse
GenreDrama
SettingNottingham

Punch is a 2024 play written by British playwright James Graham. It is based on the non-fiction book Right from Wrong by Jacob Dunne. It premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in 2024, before transferring to Young Vic in 2025.[1]

It subsequently transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End from 22 September to 29 November 2025, where it ran concurrently running with its Broadway counterpart.

Synopsis

Jacob Dunne punches a man with fatal consequences.[2]

Background

The play is based on Jacob Dunne's memoir Right From Wrong.[3] Dunne was jailed for the manslaughter of trainee paramedic James Hodgkinson in 2011.[4] Hodgkinson had been visiting Nottingham to attend a test match,[5] and was killed as a result of an unprovoked[6] single punch.[7] Through Restorative justice Hodgkinson's mother Joan Scourfield later forgave Dunne.[8] Dunne and Scourfield have subsequently campaigned about the risks of a single punch,[9] and taken part in Question and Answer sessions together following some performances of the play.[10]

After only a handful of performances[4] Dunne was no longer able to watch the second act of the play.[4] After the interval Punch explores him meeting Hodgkinson's mum, a meeting that Dunne acknowledged had a profound effect on him.[4]

Punch was written by James Graham, with direction by Adam Penford.[3] Graham is an Olivier Award-winner who is often described as a state of the nation playwright.[11][12] His previous work includes Best of Enemies, Dear England, This House, and Sherwood. [13] The original productions featured design by Anna Fleischle,[14] with lighting by Robbie Butler,[14] sound design by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite,[14] and movement direction by Leanne Pinder.[14]

The play was published by Methuen Drama in March 2025.[15] Jacob Dunne and James Graham appeared as guests on the Rest is Politics: Leading podcast to discuss the Play and its significance.[16]

Production history

Nottingham (2024)

The world premiere of Punch opened on 4 May 2024, at the Nottingham Playhouse for a limited run and closed on 25 May 2024.[17] The cast included Julie Hesmondhalgh, Tony Hirst, David Shields, Alec Boaden, Shalisha James-Davis, and Emma Pallant.[13] The production received critical acclaim[18][19][20] and was nominated for two WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Play.[2]

Off-West End (2025)

Punch transferred to Young Vic the following year. Previews began 1 March 2025, with an opening night on 6 March.[21] The original cast returned,[2] with the show running until 26 April.[21]

West End (2025)

The show was transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End from 22 September to 29 November 2025,[22] where it ran concurrently with the Broadway production.[23]

Broadway (2025)

Punch premiered on Broadway on 10 September 2025 as part of the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2025-2026 season at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.[24] Initial casting was announced in June 2025, with Will Harrison playing Jacob.[25]

Tour (2026)

Following the West End run the play is scheduled to return to Nottingham Playhouse in March 2026, before a short tour at Leeds Playhouse from 7 to 11 April and Theatre Royal, Plymouth from 14 to 18 April 2026.[26]

Cast and characters

Character Nottingham Off-West End[27] Broadway[28] West End
2024 2025
Jacob David Shields Will Harrison David Shields
Joan Julie Hesmondhalgh Victoria Clark Julie Hesmondhalgh
David, Derek, Raf's Dad, and Tony Tony Hirst Sam Robards Tony Hirst
Raf, DS Villiers, and Sam Alec Boaden Cody Kostro Alec Boaden
Nicola, Teacher, and Clare Shalisha James-Davis Camila Canó-Flaviá Shalisha James-Davis
Wendy, Jacob's Mum, and Sandra Emma Pallant Lucy Taylor Emma Pallant

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2026 Laurence Olivier Awards[29] Best Play James Graham Pending
Best Actor David Shields Pending
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Julie Hesmondhalgh Pending
Best Lighting Design Robbie Butler Pending

References

  1. ^ Hall, Margaret (17 July 2024). "James Graham's Punch to Play London's Young Vic". PLAYBILL.
  2. ^ a b c "James Graham's Punch to transfer to Broadway following London run". WhatsOnStage. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b Evans, Greg (10 March 2025). "James Graham's Acclaimed 'Punch' To Open Manhattan Theatre Club's 2025-2026 Broadway Season". Deadline. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "One-punch killer can only stand first act of play about his story". thetimes.com. The Times. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Play tells real-life story of one-punch killing". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  6. ^ "I've got to know the man I killed". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Play of one-punch death to move to West End". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  8. ^ "My son's killer and me: grief, pain and the power of forgiveness after a one-punch death". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Killer Jacob Dunne 'saved' by parents of victim". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  10. ^ "'Why I now hug my son's killer on stage'". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Punch: another state-of-the-nation masterpiece from James Graham". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Punch Review". thestage.co.uk. The Stage. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  13. ^ a b "James Graham's Punch to Play London's Young Vic". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2 November 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d Graham, James (2025). Punch. Methuen Drama. p. 6. ISBN 9781350553422.
  15. ^ "Punch". bloomsbury.com. Bloomsbury Publishing. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  16. ^ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/prison-reform-masculinity-and-restorative-justice/id1665265193?i=1000737797729
  17. ^ kathrynm (12 March 2024). "NEWS: Punch cast announced". Nottingham Playhouse. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  18. ^ Akbar, Arifa (10 May 2024). "Punch review – James Graham's tragic study of a fatal blow". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  19. ^ "James Graham's Punch extends run at the Young Vic". WhatsOnStage. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Punch at Nottingham Playhouse review – James Graham's new drama is gutwrenching but humorous". WhatsOnStage. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Punch Young Vic". youngvic.org. Young Vic. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  22. ^ "James Graham's Punch to transfer to the West End". whatsonstage.com. WhatsOnStage.com. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  23. ^ "James Graham's Punch To Premiere Simultaneously on Broadway and West End". playbill.com. Playbill. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Manhattan Theatre Club to Open James Graham's Punch on Broadway in Fall 2025". Broadway.com. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  25. ^ "Will Harrison, Sam Robards to Star on Broadway in James Graham's Punch". theatermania.com. Theatre Mania. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Nottingham Playhouse announces new season – including return for James Graham's Punch". whatsonstage.com. WhatsOnStage.com. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  27. ^ "Punch". Nottingham Playhouse. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  28. ^ "Victoria Clark, Cody Kostro, Piter Marek Complete Cast of Broadway's Punch". Playbill. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  29. ^ "2026 Archives | Official London Theatre". officiallondontheatre.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
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