The West End production of Punch, written by Olivier Award-winning playwright James Graham and based on Jacob Dunne’s memoir Right From Wrong, has announced a series of weekly post-show conversations titled After the Punch.
These free Tuesday night events will begin on 30 September at the Apollo Theatre, where Punch runs from 22 September to 29 November. Each session will feature expert panellists and charity partners exploring themes such as restorative justice, masculinity, and intergenerational trauma.
The series is curated by The Forgiveness Project and supported by 11 charity partners including Go Live Theatre, Remedi, and The Longford Trust. Topics include What Makes a Man?, The Story Behind Punch, and Invisible Wounds, among others.
Producer Kate Pakenham said, “In bringing Punch to the West End, we wanted to honour the real people at its centre by amplifying the important conversations the play provokes, and ensuring that we reach as many young people as possible with this powerful story… We hope that success in the West End will allow for further sharing of this inspiring story with young people across the country.”
James Graham will donate all his earnings from the West End run to support access initiatives, including tickets and travel for young people and community groups from Nottinghamshire.
Playwright James Graham said, “I distinctly recall the moment after a show at the Nottingham Playhouse when audiences were informed of the ‘talking circle’ that Jacob Dunne had built and placed outside the theatre… I commend and celebrate how our producers and their partners have thrown themselves into facilitating the wider debates and events around the themes of Punch.”
The original cast from Nottingham Playhouse and the Young Vic will reprise their roles, including Alec Boaden, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Tony Hirst, Shalisha James-Davis, Emma Pallant, and David Shields.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
