Punch has won double at the prestigious Olivier Awards with Cunard, announced last night at a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall and on BBC Two. James Graham’s acclaimed work scooped the Best New Play award, whilst Julie Hesmondhalgh took home the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award for her performance as Joan.
Commissioned and directed by Adam Penford, Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse, the world premiere of Punch opened at Nottingham Playhouse in 2024 to record audiences. It subsequently transferred to the Young Vic in May 2025 and then opened simultaneously at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End and on Broadway, something no new play had previously achieved. Punch is based on the true-life story in Jacob Dunne’s memoir Right from Wrong.
Punch in the West End was produced by KPPL Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures and Eilene Davidson Productions, in association with the Young Vic and Nica Burns.
Punch received a total of four Olivier Award nominations for its run in London, for Best New Play, David Shields for Best Actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Robbie Butler for Best Lighting Design.
The Olivier award comes hot on the heels of wins for Best Play in the Critics’ Circle Awards and Best New Play in the London Standard Awards. Chris Worrall CDG also won the Best Casting Director for a play for Punch in the Casting Directors’ Guild Awards.
Adam Penford, Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that James Graham has won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for Punch. His beautiful play has moved and galvanised audiences in Nottingham, London and New York. When I first approached the real-life people – particularly Joan and David, who tragically lost their son, James Hodgkinson – about the idea of making a play, I promised we would use the production to help their campaigning. Through their grace, and James’ powerful writing, we’ve been able to provoke conversation and hopefully change lives.
Of Julie Hesmondhalgh’s win, Penford continued:
“We are really thrilled that Julie Hesmondhalgh has won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for Punch. Julie provided the humanity at the centre of the production, which profoundly moved audiences on a nightly basis. She brought her own empathy and activism to the production and the audience picked up on this integrity. She perfectly represented the humour and compassion that everyone working on the play grew to know real-life Joan for.”
“We are fortunate to have worked with an incredible team of creatives and cast, and our producers in London, Kate Pakenham, Phyllida Lloyd, Mark Gordon, Eilene Davidson, in association with the Young Vic and Nica Burns. Everyone working on Punch recognises that the work we’re doing around the production with the community offstage is just as important as the work happening on stage and that’s a very special and unique thing.”
Community engagement activity at each venue has been key to informing wider audiences around the themes of Restorative Justice and the wider social issues platformed in the play. Punch has partnered with Remedi, the Restorative Justice charity; The Forgiveness Project and Go Live Theatre, amongst many other local charities and organisations. Post show discussions with expert panellists from social justice, education and arts sectors, have enabled audiences to delve more deeply into the issues raised. This has resulted in Punch being talked about in the House of Commons, and a Derbyshire Judge commenting on it in his court.
Punch is at Theatre Royal Plymouth 14 – 18 April 2026 and embarks on a UK Tour in 2027: punchtheplay.com/uk-tour/
A schools version of Punch is being developed by James Graham and Adam Penford. Core funding for the schools’ version of Punch has been made possible through the commitment from the West End producers and James Graham of their royalties and profits going into sharing the play with young people. This commitment has created a catalyst fund which will be built upon further through partnership funding. The schools’ version will be produced out of Nottingham Playhouse in 2027.
Acclaimed playwright James Graham was commissioned to write the play, as part of Nottingham Playhouse’s commitment to commission and stage work from local writers.
Jacob Dunne, a teenager from The Meadows, Nottingham, spends his Saturday nights seeking thrills with his friends. One fateful evening in Old Market Square, 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.
The 2024 and 2026 productions of Punch at Nottingham Playhouse were sponsored by Nottingham Trent University.
Punch is dedicated to James Hodgkinson and all victims of one-punch.
Posted on 13 April 2026
