Nottingham Playhouse announces new season – including return for James Graham’s Punch

Nottingham Playhouse has announced its spring 2026 season, featuring the return of James Graham’s Punch, the regional premiere of Small Island and the previously confirmed revival of The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

Punch, directed by Nottingham Playhouse artistic director Adam Penford, returns to its home city in March before transferring to Leeds Playhouse from 7 to 11 April and Theatre Royal Plymouth from 14 to 18 April.

Inspired by Jacob Dunne’s memoir Right from Wrong, Graham’s play follows the story of a Nottingham teenager whose single act of violence changes his life, and his subsequent meeting with the parents of his victim. The production originally premiered at Nottingham Playhouse before transferring to the Young Vic, the West End and Broadway, and it has picked up two five-star reviews from WhatsOnStage.

Nottingham-born Graham, whose credits include Dear England, This House and Sherwood, won the Kevin Pakenham Award for the play. David Shields received the UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Play.

The new season also features the regional premiere of Andrea Levy’s Small Island, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson. A co-production with Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and in association with Actors Touring Company, the play will be directed by Matthew Xia. It opens at Leeds Playhouse on 11 March, transfers to Birmingham Rep on 1 April and arrives at Nottingham Playhouse on 28 April, running until 16 May.

Based on Levy’s novel, Small Island tells the story of migration from Jamaica to Britain in the 1940s and explores themes of belonging, memory and empire.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo, adapted by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler from Christy Lefteri’s novel, also returns as part of the season.

Punch runs at Nottingham Playhouse from 13 March to 4 April. Small Island follows from 28 April to 16 May.