Punch (play)

Punch
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. Punch premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in 2024 and was transferred to Young Vic in 2025.[1] The show is scheduled to transfer to the Apollo Theatre in the West End from 22 September to 29 November 2025, 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] Although never forgotten, Hodgkinson's mother Joan Scourfield later forgave Dunne.[8] Dunne and Scourfield subsequently campaigned about the risks of a single punch.[9]

Punch was written by James Graham, an Olivier Award-winning playwright who also wrote Best of Enemies, Dear England, This House, and Sherwood. [10] All productions were directed by Adam Penford.[3]

The play was published by Methuen Drama in March 2025.[11]

Production history

Off-West End (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.[12]The cast included Julie Hesmondhalgh, Tony Hirst, David Shields, Alec Boaden, Shalisha James-Davis, and Emma Pallant.[10]The production received critical acclaim[13][14][15] and was nominated for two WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Play.[2]

Punch transferred to Young Vic the following year. Previews began 1 March 2025, with an opening night on 6 March. The show ran until 12 April. The original cast returned.[2]

West End (2025)

The show is scheduled to transfer to the Apollo Theatre in the West End from 22 September to 29 November 2025,[16] where it will run concurrently with the Broadway production.[17]

Broadway (2025)

Punch is scheduled to premiere on Broadway as part of the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2025-2026 season at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.[18] Initial casting was announced in June 2025, with Will Harrison playing Jacob.[19]

Cast and characters

Character Off-West End[20]
2024
Joan Julie Hesmondhalgh
David, Derek, Jacob's Dad Tony Hirst
Jacob David Shields
Raf, DS Villiers, and Sam Alec Boaden
Clare, Teacher, and Nicola Shalisha James-Davis
Wendy, Sandra, Jacob's Mum Emma Pallant

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. ^ "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. ^ "PPlay 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. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Punch". bloomsbury.com. Bloomsbury Publishing. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  12. ^ kathrynm (12 March 2024). "NEWS: Punch cast announced". Nottingham Playhouse. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "James Graham's Punch extends run at the Young Vic". WhatsOnStage. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Punch at Nottingham Playhouse review – James Graham's new drama is gutwrenching but humorous". WhatsOnStage. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  16. ^ "James Graham's Punch to transfer to the West End". whatsonstage.com. WhatsOnStage.com. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  17. ^ "James Graham's Punch To Premiere Simultaneously on Broadway and West End". playbill.com. Playbill. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Manhattan Theatre Club to Open James Graham's Punch on Broadway in Fall 2025". Broadway.com. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Will Harrison, Sam Robards to Star on Broadway in James Graham's Punch". theatermania.com. Theatre Mania. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  20. ^ "Punch". Nottingham Playhouse. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
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