Olivier-winning Punch lands in Plymouth with a knockout opening night

Fresh from its triumph at last weekend’s Olivier Awards, where it picked up Best New Play from four nominations, Punch arrived in Plymouth last night (Tuesday) with serious momentum and delivered on every ounce of that acclaim.

Already proven in London’s West End and on Broadway, this production feels anything but routine. There’s an immediacy to it—an urgency—that made the Theatre Royal feel like the only place in the world that mattered for its duration. 

From the opening moments, we were pulled into a real-life story that is as devastating as it is humane. 

At the centre of it all: Jack James Ryan as Jacob. His performance is nothing short of extraordinary. Raw, unfiltered, and emotionally relentless, Ryan charts a journey through guilt, anger and reckoning with such honesty that it becomes almost unbearable to watch at times. I noticed I wasn’t alone in wiping away tears.

In 2011, Jacob Dunne, then a teenager, threw a single punch during a night out in Nottingham. The victim, James Hodgkinson, died days later from complications caused by the blow. Dunne was convicted of manslaughter and jailed.

After his release, Dunne took part in a restorative justice process, meeting the victim’s parents. Rather than confrontation, the meetings led to accountability, forgiveness, and understanding the many consequences of violence.

What elevates Punch beyond a powerful narrative, however, is its production. This is theatre at its absolute best. The sound design pulses with tension, while the lighting doesn’t just illuminate the action - it becomes part of the storytelling, shifting mood and perspective with precision. 

Every technical element works in lockstep with the performances, creating an immersive, almost suffocating atmosphere.

There are no wasted moments. No easy answers. Just a gripping, deeply human story told with courage and craft.

For Plymouth to host this production—so soon after its Olivier success—is something special. Punch doesn’t just land here; it hits with force and lingers long after the curtain falls.

Don’t miss it. (JG)

• Punch, at Theatre Royal Plymouth, until Saturday April 18.  Book tickets here