Punch at Nottingham Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Sheridan Brown
When a fateful altercation outside a Nottingham pub leads to the death of a young man, the lives of two families unravel. But amid the grief, the anger and apparent hopelessness, a seed of hope begins to germinate.
Nottingham Playhouse’s latest production of ‘Punch’, is a play based on true events, and written by Olivier Award-winning James Graham. It tells the story of Jacob Dunne, a teenager from The Meadows in Nottingham. A night out celebrating his friend’s birthday starts off in high spirits – full of youthful bravado and recklessness – fuelled by drink and drugs. But later that night, Jacob gets pulled into a street brawl. He dives headlong into the fight and lands a single, impulsive punch that leads to the tragic death of James Hodgkinson.
After being convicted of manslaughter, Jacob spends time in prison – but on release finds himself homeless, directionless and in danger of reoffending. Then he gets an unexpected communication from his victim’s parents and this opens up the possibility of change – not only for Jacob, but also for David and Joan.
Directed by Adam Penford, and premiering in Nottingham in 2024, the show had very successful runs in both the West End and on Broadway. Now the play has come back to its roots – still directed by Penford – but with a brand-new cast. With four nominations in the 2026 Olivier Awards, I was very excited to see what all the fuss was about. So, on its opening night, I arrived at the theatre excited to see the production – but totally unprepared for the emotional juggernaut the play turned out to be.
As we settled into our seats in the packed auditorium, we took in the stage. Dimly and atmospherically-lit, the set suggested a concrete underpass, hand-rails, walkways and gitties of The Meadows estate. The backdrops hinted at Nottingham city centre buildings. Subtle music was playing to set the mood.
The play began explosively and dynamically. We were immediately drawn to the lives of Jacob and his friends. On the edge of the law, they live to their own rules, sticking two fingers up at authority. Amazing use of humour, movement, props, lighting and sound capture the thrill-seeking energy of their lives.
With only six actors, the cast is small and other than Jack James Ryan, who plays Jacob, all actors play multiple parts. They did this with amazing dexterity. With the change of a jacket, a hat or a cardigan, different characters emerged at different points of the play – all completely believable.
Jack James Ryan’s performance was outstanding. He played Jacob with nuance and care. The breadth and depth of emotion that Ryan portrayed was heart-breaking – but also uplifting. James Graham’s writing of Jacob’s character neither excuses nor demonises him. Instead, his portrayal of Jacob is of a flawed, but deeply human figure. Ryan was able to bring this characterisation to life beautifully in front of our eyes.
Similarly, the portrayal of the victim’s parents was deeply moving. Finty Williams, who played Joan Scourfield captured the grief, anger and potential for bitterness that came after her son’s death – alongside her amazing capacity for empathy and forgiveness. Her intensity and believable open-heartedness really drove the second part of the play.
The stripped-back set, (Anna Fleischle) allowed the performance and story to take centre stage. The use of lighting (Robbie Butler) was particularly effective in creating mood and dramatic impact. Special shout out to the spot operator who did an amazing job! There was also some really interesting use of sound and music (Alexandra Faye Braithwaite). I didn’t immediately notice the music but became gradually aware of it – and the way it provided a subtle, yet powerful layer to a scene’s emotionality.
As the play draws to its emotional conclusion, we see the power of restorative justice in the lives of three people. However, the play does not offer neat resolutions – not all wounds can be healed. What it does offer is a thought provoking, challenging and deeply moving insight into the redemptive power of human connection. There was a moment when we both became aware that the audience was holding its collective breath; we were gripped by every word, every gesture. Our investment in the lives of Jacob, Joan and David was palpable.
What an astonishingly powerful production this is! It tells a multi-layered story in a compelling way, with emotion and humour finely balanced. As the play came to a close the audience was immediately on its feet giving a very well-deserved standing ovation. It took me several minutes to regain my composure. Amazing!
Rating: 5/5
Dates: Wednesday 18th March – Saturday 4th April
Tickets: £14.50 – £59. Youth Pass ticket, at £5.50 are available for this production. See further details here: https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/get-involved/youth-pass/
Remaining shows are bookable here: https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/punch/