West End and Broadway hit Punch heads for Leeds Playhouse

Award-winning West End and Broadway drama Punch has its only Northern performances at Leeds Playhouse next spring (April 7-11, 2026).

Punch follows the story of Jacob, a teenager from Nottingham who spent his Saturday nights seeking thrills with his friends. On one fateful evening an impulsive punch had fatal consequences and sent him to jail. On release, searching for answers, his victim's parents ask to meet - sparking a profound transformation in Jacob’s life.

By James Graham (Dear England, This House, Sherwood) Punch, based on the book Right from Wrong by Jacob Dunne, premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in 2024 and led to the issue of restorative justice being raised in Parliament, as well as being cited by a local judge when sentencing a similar single-punch case.

Graham was awarded the Kevin Pakenham Award (Longford Trust) for Punch, and David Shields, who originally played the lead character, won the best performance in a play award at the UK Theatre Awards last year.

Adam Penford, who will direct Punch, said: “It’s been a whirlwind journey, seeing this Nottingham-based story, made at Nottingham Playhouse, affecting audiences so deeply across the globe. It's also been affirming to witness the local producers, in every city and venue, taking up our call for a meaningful community engagement programme exploring the themes of the play, ensuring the work offstage has as much impact as the work on stage.

“We remain ever grateful to the real-life people whose story we're telling and hope the play continues to help them in their campaigning. This production is dedicated to James Hodgkinson and all other victims of one punch.”

Shawab Iqbal, Chief Executive of Leeds Playhouse, said: “We’re thrilled to be the only venue in the North to host it, and to be part of its journey. This will be a compelling piece of theatre for our audiences – one that provokes, inspires and connects.”

More info and tickets here