Punch 2026By James GrahamBased on the book Right From Wrong by Jacob DunneDirected by Adam PenfordNottingham PlayhouseWeds 18th March – Sat 4th AprilBased on true events, Punch tells the story of local lad, Jacob Dunne (Jack James Ryan) and the fateful consequences of a drink and drug-fuelled night out in Nottingham. Dunne throws a punch at a stranger, but just one punch is all it takes, to end the life of 28-year-old paramedic, James Hodgkinson. Jacob engages in a programme of restorative justice whereby he meets James’s parents, Joan (Finty Williams) and David (Matthew Flynn). There are gangs everywhere grooming youngsters and ‘weed is where it starts,’ Jacob tells us, whilst freely admitting that doing bad things creates good feelings. The exposition in the earlier part of Punch is necessary to the pay-off in Act 2 when Jacob finally meets Joan and David.

Source: Punch March 19, 2026 16:58 UTC