Punch review: “Shocking, stirring, heartbreaking and heartwarming”

Written by James Graham and based on a true story, Punch shows us both the worst and the best of humanity. It’s about a terrible crime that took the life of one man but which in some ways saved the life of the perpetrator, retelling a headline-grabbing tale to shine a light on a much wider picture about upbringing, class, toxic masculinity, redemption and forgiveness. 

You may remember the story from the front pages at the time. In 2011, 19-year-old Nottingham lad Jacob Dunne punched James Hodgkinson (who was in the city to attend a cricket match) in the face, knocking him to the ground with just a single blow. Nine days later James died, leading to Jacob being convicted on manslaughter charges.  

He spent 14 months in prison and could easily have fallen back into his old, drug-fuelled thuggish ways. But through the restorative justice system, he communicated with and eventually met his victim’s parents – a painful process for sure but one that, through the remarkable grace of the distraught couple, led to Jacob turning his life around. He’s now an educator and campaigner. 

Repeating the role he played when Punch premiered at Nottingham Playhouse last year, David Shields is astonishing as Jacob. In the first act he’s all nervous energy, narrating the story as he races around the set (which is designed liked a giant jungle gym by Anna Fleischle and brilliantly lit by Robbie Butler) spoiling for a fight and wondering if his violent tendencies are built into his software at birth or coded by circumstance. 

Then in act two, his prison sentence served, Jacob is scared, scarred and shell-like. His encounter with James’s parents Joan and David is as quiet as that first act is loud. They’re played by Julie Hesmondhalgh and Tony Hirst (like the rest of the tremendous supporting cast, they both also flit in and out of multiple roles) with a warmth that pulls at the heartstrings.  

They’re devastated at the loss of their son, but Joan in particular has wellsprings of compassion and Hesmondhalgh taps into that with empathy to spare. I can’t recall the last time I’ve witnessed an audience so completely, silently drawn in by a scene, at least until the sobs began.

Punch and its cast earn those tears. Shocking, stirring, heartbreaking and heartwarming, it’s as deeply affecting as theatre gets. 

Punch is at the Apollo Theatre, London, until 29 November.