Punch, written by James Graham and directed by Adam Penford, tells the story of Jacob Dunne (Jack James Ryan), a teenager from Nottingham who embraces the more antisocial aspects of life until a run‑of‑the‑mill fight ends in fatal consequences. One punch kills a complete stranger, James Hodgkinson. After serving time in prison, Jacob’s release sees him lost and directionless. Can any steer come from an unexpected source: James’s parents, Joan (Finty Williams) and David (Matthew Flynn)?
We join the entire cast in the opening scene in a talking circle and throughout, we as the audience are directly addressed, which adds to the fact this is not just a play, it was real life. Each actor takes on multiple roles during the performance and although some transitions are far more convincing than others, overall performances are strong.
The talking circle sits within an underpass and overpass that dominate the stage. The backdrop shows us Jacob’s world: residential terraces to the left, a town centre to the right, with high‑rise buildings ironically projected onto the floor. Small yet clever design features, such as windows lighting up to suggest a nightclub, demonstrated the versatility of the set.
We learn about the “who”: who James was, who the parents of both victim and perpetrator were, and who Jacob was. And isn’t this what we want to understand? What creates someone willing to engage in behaviour that can end in disaster? The answer here is not what we want to hear: nothing extraordinary. How many fights occur on a regular basis? But how many end in death? Learning about Jacob neither invites sympathy nor rejection—it simply fleshes him out.
We never see the fatal punch or James himself on stage, an effective choice that avoids sensationalism while feeling quite impactful. James’s photograph, displayed around the theatre, serves to reinforce the human cost. The standing ovation at the end reflected how deeply the play’s hard‑hitting themes resonated with the audience. As stated, Punch is truly a fitting tribute to James and to all victims of one‑punch violence.
Punch is at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday 11 April 2026. Full details and tickets here.
This post was written by reader Christine Brathwaite in return for two free tickets, as part of South Leeds Goes To The Playhouse.
Photo: Pamela Raith
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