It’s the critically-acclaimed play “that every single person should see” according to Whatsonstage, writes Carter Smith, and the four-time Olivier Awards-nominated show Punch is heading to Leicester next year as part of a national tour.
James Graham’s incendiary drama tells the harrowing, real-life story of Nottingham lad Jacob Dunne, a teenager from the Meadows whose world is turned upside down by a single, impulsive blow on a booze- and drug-fuelled night out.
Based on Dunne’s own book Right from Wrong, it finds humanity and redemption in restorative justice when Jacob comes face-to-face with the parents of the innocent stranger he killed, paramedic James Hodgkinson.
The play began life at Nottingham Playhouse then hit the West End for a run at London’s Apollo theatre last year. It has just returned to its hometown, where it’s back at the Playhouse until April 4. It comes to Curve next March as part of a 2027 tour which begins with more dates in Nottingham.
The 2026 production has a brand new cast including Coronation Street’s Jack James Ryan as Jacob. They have big shoes to fill: two of the original cast have picked up Olivier Awards nominations.
Adam Penford, the director of Punch said: “We’re glad that audiences across the UK will have the opportunity to see Punch in 2027. It’s a story of hope, forgiveness and human connection, and we’ve seen from its incredible reception in London and New York that it has the same powerful impact, wherever it goes.
“As ever, utmost in all our minds, is the responsibility of telling the account with respect and integrity. The UK tour also means more opportunities for community engagement work around Punch, ensuring that the play can continue to support the campaigning work of the real-life people whose story we’re telling, at a local level.”
Punch is in the running for Best New Play and Best Lighting Design at the 2026 Olivier Awards, with David Shields’ intense, pumped-up performance as Jacob nominated for Best Actor while Julie Hesmondhalgh is up for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 12 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, hosted by Nick Mohammed.
Punch is back at Nottingham Playhouse until April 4, before switching to Leeds Playhouse (April 7 to 11) and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth (April 14 to 18).
The 2027 tour dates are:
Nottingham Playhouse, January 25 to February 6
Bath Theatre Royal, February 9 to 13
Birmingham Rep, February 16 to 20
Chichester Festival Theatre, February 23 to 27
Malvern Theatres, March 2 to 6
Blackpool Grand Theatre, March 9 to 13
Curve, Leicester, March 16 to 20
Priority booking at Curve opens on April 7. Tickets go on general sale from April 14.