Punch
★★★★★
‘Another state-of-the-nation masterpiece from James Graham’ The Telegraph
Following sold-out runs at the Nottingham Playhouse and Young Vic, Punch, transfers to the West End for a strictly limited 10-week season from 22nd September. Don’t miss your chance to see this critically-acclaimed new play in a ‘powerhouse of a production’ (WhatsOnStage) at the Apollo Theatre.
From Olivier Award-winning writer James Graham (Dear England, This House, BBC’s Sherwood), Punch brings Jacob Dunne’s extraordinary true story to the stage in a gripping, high-energy and deeply moving production directed by Adam Penford.
Jacob Dunne, a teenager from Nottingham, spends his Saturday nights seeking thrills with his friends. One fateful evening, an impulsive punch leads to fatal consequences. After serving prison time, Jacob finds himself lost and directionless. Searching for answers, Joan and David – the parents of his victim James – ask to meet, sparking a profound transformation in Jacob’s life.
A powerful true story of hope, humanity, and the possibility of change.
This production is dedicated to James Hodgkinson and all victims of one-punch.
After the Punch is a post-show conversation series on Tuesday nights, free to same day ticketholders. Scroll down for more information on the different topics being explored ↓
The post-show conversation series – After the Punch – will run Tuesday nights from 30 September featuring a variety of expert panellists. Curated by The Forgiveness Project, the series will be co-hosted by a range of Charity Partners from across the social justice and education sectors. The conversations are free to same day ticketholders.
After The Punch was made possible through the generous support of Carol Sellars.
Tues 30 September: STEPPING INTO THE SHOES OF ANOTHER
After crime, how is it possible to embark on a journey of understanding?
Speakers include: Marina Cantacuzino (The Forgiveness Project – Founder) and Sandra Barefoot (The Forgiveness Project – Executive Director), Jo Berry (Public Speaker) and cast member Julie Hesmondhalgh.
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Tues 7 October: WHAT MAKES A MAN?
Masculinity, shame and what lies beneath the surface.
Speakers include: Nico Concha (Social and Emotional Learning Practitioner at Football Beyond Borders), Dr Kenny Imafidon MBE (Entrepreneur, Author and Social Commentator), Gethin Jones (Unlocking Potential – Founder) and cast member Tony Hirst.
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Tues 14 October: THE STORY BEHIND PUNCH
On truth, adaptation, and the power of lived experience.
Speakers include: Jacob Dunne (Author of Right from Wrong), James Graham (Playwright), Adam Penford (Director) and cast member David Shields.
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Tues 21 October: THE PROCESS OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Hear from the real people who engaged in Restorative Justice and inspired the play.
Speakers include: Jacob Dunne (Author of Right from Wrong), Joan Scourfield (Mother of James Hodgkinson), Nicola Fowler (Restorative Justice Practitioner for Jacob, Joan and David) and cast member Shalisha James-Davis.
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Tues 28 October: BEYOND THE SENTENCE
Does a prison sentence really end when you leave prison?
Speakers include, Roxanne Foster (Longford Scholar), Jimmy McGovern (Screenwriter), Andrew Morris (Longford Scholar) and Ronke Phillips (Presenter and Reporter).
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Tues 4 November: IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD
What role do communities need to play in raising our children?
Speakers include: Aika Stephenson (CEO Just for Kids Law), Ciaran Thapar (Director of public affairs and communications at the Youth Endowment Fund) Desmond Skyers (St Giles Trust – Senior Mentor) and Jacob Dunne (Author of Right from Wrong).
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Tues 11 November: INVISIBLE WOUNDS
How do we understand the effect of harm passed down the generations and empower young people to live well and thrive?
Speakers include: Steve Chalke (CEO of Oasis Restore), Dr Gwen Adshead (Psychotherapist), Danielle Manson (Barrister) and cast member Emma Pallant.
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Tues 18 November: FACING THE PEOPLE WE HARM (RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WEEK)
Exploring the promise of restorative justice.
Speakers include: Julie Clark (Calm Mediation), Michael Palin (Actor, Writer and Presenter) and Nick Dawson (Author and Ambassador for Why Me?).
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Tues 25 November: JUSTICE BEYOND THE HEADLINES
Bridging divides to find common ground on justice.
Speakers include: Jacob Dunne (Author of Right from Wrong, Common Ground Justice Project), Alice Dawnay (Common Ground Justice Project) and Alastair Campbell (Writer and Broadcaster).
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Alec Boaden
Raf/DS Villers/Sam
Television credits include: Masters of the Air (Apple TV), Random Acts (Channel 4) and Jamie Johnson (CBBC).
Alec attended The Television Workshop from 2008-2020 and was a part of Nottingham Playhouse’s Homegrown programme in 2019.
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Joan / Nan
Theatre credits include: An Oak Tree (Young Vic), Punch (Nottingham Playhouse and Young Vic), White Rabbit Red Rabbit (Soho Place), Blue Now (Factory International), The Jungle (St Ann’s Warehouse New York); The Greatest Play in the History of the World (Trafalgar Studios and National Tour); The Report with Lemn Sissay (Royal Court); Mother Courage and Her Children, The Almighty Sometimes, Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, Blindsided (Manchester Royal Exchange); Wit (Manchester Royal Exchange – winner of Best Female Performer 2017 MTAs); There Are No Beginnings (Leeds Playhouse); God Bless the Child (Royal Court).
Television credits include: Alma’s Not Normal; Mr Bates vs the Post Office; You & Me; The Pact; The A Word; The Trouble with Maggie Cole; Dr Who; Catastrophe; Broadchurch (BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress); Happy Valley; Black Roses (BBC4 – Royal Television Society Best Actress 2014); Moving On; Inside No 9; Cucumber; Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street 1998-2014 (National TV Award 2014, Royal Television Society Award 2013).
Writing: An Actor’s Alphabet (NHB); A Working Diary (Methuen); These I Love, a one woman show.
Julie co-runs Take Back theatre company in Manchester and the fundraising group, 500 Acts of Kindness. She is a supporter of Arts Emergency.
Tony Hirst
David / Derek / Tony / Raf's Dad
Theatre credits include: Maryland (Take Back Theatre); My White Best Friend North, Hobson’s Choice, Bruntwood Prize Ceremony (The Royal Exchange, Manchester); Hangmen (Wyndam’s Theatre, West End & The Royal Court); I Know Where The Dead Are Buried (Second City Productions) and Strangeways: The Inside Account (Contact Theatre, Manchester).
Television credits include: Riot Women, Boiling Point, Better, Everything I Know About Love, Red Rose, Broken (BBC); Brassic (SKY); Pistol (FX/Disney+); Stephen, Coronation Street, Law & Order: UK (ITV) and Glue, Shameless (Channel 4).
Film credits include: Old Guy (Paramount Movies)
Shalisha James-Davis
Clare / Nicola
Theatre credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Royal Exchange – Nominated, Ian Charleson Awards 2024); The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (London Theatre Company); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare’s Globe); Alfred Fagan Award (National Theatre Studio); If We Were Older (Royal National Theatre); The Wolves (Stratford East); Our Country’s Good, Notre Dame (National Theatre).
Television credits include: Casualty, Silent Witness (BBC); Crossfire, Vera (ITV); I May Destroy You (HBO); The Split 2 (Sister Pictures); Alex Rider (Eleventh Hour Films); Next of Kin (Mammoth/ITV) and Class (BBC America).
Film credits include: Mary Queen of Scots (Working Title); Bay of Silence (Silent Bay Films) and Night Out (Unit 9 Films).
Emma Pallant
Jacob’s Mum / Wendy / Sandra
Theatre credits include: Cowbois (RSC/Royal Court); Faustus: That Damned Woman (Storyhouse); A Christmas Carol, Tamar’s Revenge, As You Like It, Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, Laughter in the Dark (RSC); The Dog in the Manger, House of Desires, Pedro, the Great Pretender (RSC/West End); Celebrated Virgins (Theatr Clwyd); Ravens: Spassky Vs Fischer (Hampstead Theatre); An Enemy of the People, LAVA (Nottingham Playhouse); Intra Muros (Park Theatre); William Wordsworth (ETT); The Wind in the Willows (Rose Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe); It Just Stopped, Alison’s House (Orange Tree Theatre); Bell, Book and Candle, Bleak House, Great Expectations, Romeo and Juliet (New Vic Theatre); The Cherry Orchard, His Dark Materials, Katherine Desouza (Birmingham Rep); An Ideal Husband (Theatre of Frankfurt); The House of Bernada Alba (Belgrade Theatre); Top Girls (Watford Palace); Cymbeline (Regent’s Park) and Precious Bane (Pentabus).
Television credits include: Queenie; Responsible Child; Casualty; Holby City; Father Brown and Doctors.
Film credits include: All This Time; Heavenly Village Hall and Our Life Together.
David Shields
Jacob
Theatre credits include: Hush (The Gate Theatre); Monster Party (Arcola Theatre) and Arcadia (Oxford Playhouse).
Television credits include: Masters of the Air (Apple TV); Black Mirror (Netflix); Van Der Valk (ITV); The Liberator, Treadstone, The Crown (Netflix); and Doctor Who (BBC).
Film credits include: Freud’s Last Session, Judy and The Bad Education Movie.
Rob Alexander-Adams
Understudy David / Derek / Tony / Raf's Dad
Training: Rose Bruford College
Theatre includes: Mrs. Warren’s Profession (Garrick); Macbeth (Donmar/Harold Pinter); A Mirror (Trafalgar); Brokeback Mountain (Soho Place); Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Phoenix); The Caretaker, Love’s Labour Lost, Racing Demon, Noises Off (Wolsey, Ipswich); Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Library, Manchester); The Sunset Ship (Young Vic) and Keeper of the Flame (UK tour).
Film includes: Dead Weight (Aesthetik); Collision Course, Capture (NFTS); Burnt Flowers and Exit (Fausti Films) and The Fifth Element (Zaltman Films).
Television includes: Suspect (ITV); The Bill (Thames TV) and The Chief (Anglia TV).
Rob has also worked extensively as Course Leader in Drama at Westminster Kingsway College for 20 years.
Joshua Glenister
Understudy Raf / DS Villers / Sam
Training: LIPA
Theatre includes: The Mousetrap (St Martin’s); Witness for the Prosecution (London County Hall); My Mental Breakdown (Turbine) and Wonderland (Nottingham Playhouse).
Film & Television includes: Doctors, Holby City, So Awkward (BBC); Genius (National Geographic); The King of Spades (Phorescent Films) and As I Am (Fablemaze).
Rebecca Todd
Understudy Joan / Nan / Jacob's Mum / Wendy / Sandra
Training: LAMDA
Theatre includes: All Of Us, The Corn Is Green, The Welkin (National Theatre); Dom (The Other Palace); Nine Night (West End); The Beat Of Our Hearts (Exeter Northcott); This Island’s Mine (King’s Head); Romeo & Juliet (Orange Tree); Treasure Island (Iris); Old Times, Seeing The Lights, Rookery Nook (Theatre by The Lake, Keswick); Purge (Arcola) and Table Manners (Sheringham Little).
Television includes: Emmerdale, Eastenders and Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the case of Conan Doyle.
Recordings include: Doctor Who (Big Finish Audio Productions).
Marnie Walkinshaw
Understudy Clare / Teacher / Nicola
Training: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Theatre includes: Ecoball (Nottingham Playhouse).
Television includes: The Gorge (Apple TV+).
Workshop includes: Still Life (With Mangos) (RSC).
James Graham
Author. Based on the book ‘Right From Wrong’ by Jacob Dunne
Adam Penford
Director
Anna Fleischle
Production Design
Robbie Butler
Lighting Design
Alexandra Faye Braithwaite
Sound Design and Composition
Leanne Pinder
Movement Direction
Access performances at Nimax Theatres are now available to purchase online. You can purchase up to two tickets online for the below performances.
Upcoming Performances:Access Seating:
For all performances, you can select up to two seats at our discounted access rate of 50% off per person. These include:
- Wheelchair park and companion seats
- End-of-aisle seating
- Central row seating
Step-free access to the Stalls is available via our platform stair lift.
If you’ll remain in your wheelchair choose wheelchair spaces. For all other access requriements including transferring, choose access tickets.
To make a wheelchair transfer booking, purchase more than two tickets or to discuss your seating requirements further, please contact our Access team on 0330 333 4815 or [email protected].
Groups Rate (10+ Tickets)
Rate: £55 / £40 per ticket (reduced from £85 – £75 / £49.50)
Seats: Stalls (Row M and back) & Dress Circle
Valid For: Monday – Wednesday & Friday evenings plus Thursday matinees
Exclusion Dates: All of November
Schools & Education Rate (10+ Tickets)
Rate: £25 / £19.50 per ticket (reduced from £49.50/£39.50 – £29.50 / £25), 1 free teacher ticket for every 10 students
Seats: Grand Circle & Balcony
Valid For: Monday – Thursday performances
Exclusion Dates: N/A
Discover more about Punch with these Educational Resources.
Apollo Theatre
31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ
