Nottingham Playhouse, Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards, has announced its spring 2026 season which includes:
- The triumphant return to its hometown of the acclaimed Punch by James Graham, and a further transfer to Leeds Playhouse and Theatre Royal Plymouth
- The regional premiere of Andrea Levy’s multi-award-winning novel, Small Island, a co-production with Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and in association with Actors Touring Company
- The previously announced return of The Beekeeper of Aleppo, based on Christy Lefteri’s best-selling novel
Nottingham Playhouse in association with KPPL Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures and Eilene Davidson Productions presents Punch by James Graham, based on the book Right from Wrong by Jacob Dunne, directed by Adam Penford.
Back by popular demand and following hot on the heels of its sell-out run at the Young Vic, and its highly acclaimed transfer to both Broadway and the West End, Punch, directed by Adam Penford, returns to Nottingham in March 2026. It will then transfer to Leeds Playhouse from 7 – 11 April and Theatre Royal Plymouth from 14 – 18 April 2026.
James Graham’s (Dear England, This House, BBC’s Sherwood) Punch, was a sell-out 5-star production, receiving standing ovations every night and unprecedented audience feedback during its initial run at Nottingham Playhouse. It led to the issue of Restorative Justice being raised in Parliament and a local judge cited it when sentencing a one-punch case.
James Graham was awarded the Kevin Pakenham Award (Longford Trust) for Punch, and David Shields won the Best Performance in a Play (UK Theatre Awards 2024).
Punch was Nottingham Playhouse’s highest grossing new play and when it transferred to London’s Young Vic for an 8-week run, achieved the theatre’s highest ever box office revenue. For all venues, producing Punch went beyond presenting the play, demonstrating theatre’s wider influence, by producing a series of community engagement programmes for reflection on justice, responsibility, and community. Free post-show ‘Talking Circle’ talks, exhibitions from The Forgiveness Project and signposting to Restorative Justice charities Remedi and Calm Mediation, created dialogue around the social and political issues within the story.
Jacob, a teenager from Nottingham, spends his Saturday nights seeking thrills with his friends. One fateful evening, an impulsive punch leads to fatal consequences. After serving prison time, Jacob finds himself lost and directionless. Searching for answers, Joan and David – the parents of his victim James – ask to meet, sparking a profound transformation in Jacob’s life.
A powerful true story of hope, humanity, and the possibility of change.
Nottingham’s James Graham, is one of Britain’s most celebrated writers, winning multiple Olivier Awards, as well as BAFTA, Emmy and Tony Award nominations. In Punch he turns Jacob Dunne’s unflinching true-life account into a gripping and moving play, that’s firmly rooted in Nottingham, energetic, entertaining and heartbreaking.
Adam Penford, Director of Punch and Artistic Director of Nottingham Playhouse, 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 is just as impactful as the work onstage.
“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 incredibly proud to be welcoming back Olivier Award-winning playwright James Graham, this time with his acclaimed hit play Punch. Direct from the West End, this production is a dynamic, bold, urgent and deeply human story that speaks powerfully to our times.
“We’re thrilled to be the first and 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.”
James Mackenzie-Blackman, Chief Executive and Artistic Director for Theatre Royal Plymouth, said:
“We’re honoured to be presenting Punch in our spring 2026 season. It is a seminal and urgent work about the power to forgive, beautifully told, through James Graham’s award-winning play. It is an anchor feature of our upcoming season and we look forward to welcoming the company to Plymouth.”
Punch at Nottingham Playhouse is sponsored by Nottingham Trent University.
Posted on 17 October 2025
