Punch at Nottingham Playhouse Review (2026)

Written by Hollie and Emmie for Theatre and Tonic.

Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are my own

Caution: This production contains strong language and references to violence, death, bereavement, alcohol, knives on stage and substance misuse and mental health. This production also contains strobe lighting, flashing lights, sudden noises and theatrical smoke. 

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One punch. One action was all it took for a young lad from Nottingham to change not only his own life but also the lives of many people around him, as well as those he didn’t even know. Based on the book ‘Right from Wrong’ by Jacob Dunne, this heartbreaking, horrific and hopeful true story returns to Nottingham this Spring after a remarkable reception both on Broadway and two London runs last year.

2011. Living on The Meadows Estate in Nottingham, struggling with school, an alcoholic mother and coping by binge drinking and taking drugs at the weekends with his friends, Jacob Dunne is a member of the aspirational working class. Marching into town wearing his Fred Perry trainers and clutching a bottle of vodka on a random Saturday night in July, Jacob’s need to be seen and heard as well as respected by his friends led him to punch a guy he didn’t even know in the face. 

Nine days later, sadly, that young man, James Hodgkinson, died. A trainee paramedic from Southampton, he was in Nottingham to watch the Test Match with his father and his friends: a kind and compassionate young man who had his whole life ahead of him.

Told through the eyes of Jacob, played by Jack James Ryan, we embark on an almighty journey of redemption. Jack brings energy, credibility and an authentic accent to his role as the protagonist. He can narrate and explore what it was like for Jacob growing up with an autism diagnosis, many school detentions and the temptation to take drugs with the local gangs from the estate. 

James Graham (Dear England, BBC’s Sherwood) directs this punchy and emotive production in which the UK’s pub and gang culture is depicted accurately, as well as providing the audience with a timely reminder that although 15 years have now passed, these issues and incidents continue to occur. 

Watching Jacob’s face appear on the evening broadcast on East Midlands Today is James’ parents, Joan and David. Struggling to understand how James died from only one punch to the face, the family have questions and would like to know whether Jacob’s actions were premeditated or unfortunate, as there is a difference. 

Finty Williams and Matthew Flynn play James’ mother and father, both respectfully and powerfully, through their emotions and subtle differences in their personalities. “Will he go straight back to what he knew before?” is one of the many questions they have for Jacob and after several years they decide to embark upon restorative justice to try and get answers to their questions. 

In the second act, the audience plays witness to how these relationships play out during this session as Joan and David seek to see whether Jacob is a hopeless and evil thug or whether they can attempt to forgive him for his thoughtless actions. Jack James Ryan delves into the more sensitive side of his character in the second act as he attempts to accept responsibility and aim for redemption. 

Although this play covers some difficult themes and at times can be a tear-jerker, there are moments of light and humour throughout the production. Grace Hodgett Young, who plays Clare and Nicola, brings many of those moments to life, and her ability to switch between two very different characters is admirable. 

The set design, designed by Anna Fleischle, is also really clever and adds personality and a different dynamic to the relationships that are explored on stage. 

It is widely reported that Jacob and James’ parents continue to meet regularly and speak to a range of audiences, sharing their story. This play is dedicated to James Hodgkinson and to all victims of one-punch violence. Punch stands as a powerful piece of storytelling, using theatre at its very best to spark lasting conversations and leave a profound impact on all who experience it.

This powerful production continues at Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 4th April 2026 before it moves on to Leeds Playhouse before concluding its run at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth on Saturday 18th April 2026. Punch is also embarking on a UK tour in 2027.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★