Punch (play)
| Punch | |
|---|---|
 West End Promotional Poster | |
| Written by | James Graham |
| Based on | Right from Wrong by Jacob Dunne |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | Nottingham |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 4 May 2024 |
| Place | Nottingham Playhouse |
| Directed by | Adam Penford |
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 with its Broadway counterpart.
Synopsis
[edit]Jacob Dunne punches a man with fatal consequences.[2]
Background
[edit]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
[edit]Nottingham (2024)
[edit]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)
[edit]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)
[edit]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)
[edit]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]
Uk Tours
[edit]Following the West End run the play returned 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]2026 West End production
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Laurence Olivier Awards[29] | Best New Play | James Graham | Won |
| Best Actor | David Shields | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Julie Hesmondhalgh | Won | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Robbie Butler | Nominated | ||
| Critics' Circle Theatre Awards[30] | Best New Play | James Graham | Won | |
| Best Actor | David Shields | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Julie Hesmondhalgh | Nominated | ||
| Standard Theatre Awards[31] | Best New Play | James Graham | Won | |
| Best Actor | David Shields | Nominated | ||
2026 Broadway production
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Nominated | [32][33] | |
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Will Harrison | Nominated | |||
| Tony Award | Best Actor in a Play | Nominated | [34] | ||
| Dorian Award | Outstanding Broadway Play | Nominated | [35][36] | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Play | Will Harrison | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Script of a Broadway Play | James Graham | Nominated | |||
References
[edit]- ↑ Hall, Margaret (17 July 2024). "James Graham's Punch to Play London's Young Vic". Playbill.
- 1 2 3 "James Graham's Punch to transfer to Broadway following London run". WhatsOnStage. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 3 4 "One-punch killer can only stand first act of play about his story". thetimes.com. The Times. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ↑ "Play tells real-life story of one-punch killing". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ↑ "I've got to know the man I killed". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ↑ "Play of one-punch death to move to West End". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Killer Jacob Dunne 'saved' by parents of victim". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "'Why I now hug my son's killer on stage'". bbc.co.uk/news. BBC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ↑ "Punch: another state-of-the-nation masterpiece from James Graham". telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ↑ "Punch Review". thestage.co.uk. The Stage. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- 1 2 "James Graham's Punch to Play London's Young Vic". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2 November 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Graham, James (2025). Punch. Methuen Drama. p. 6. ISBN 9781350553422.
- ↑ "Punch". bloomsbury.com. Bloomsbury Publishing. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.