Punch tour announces 2027 dates

James Graham‘s Punch will embark on a major tour in 2027.

The production premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in 2024 and later ran at the Young Vic. It subsequently transferred to the West End and Broadway in autumn 2025, and is now back at Nottingham before touring to Leeds Playhouse and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Punch is based on the book Right from Wrong by Jacob Dunne and follows the events surrounding Dunne, a teenager from The Meadows in Nottingham, whose involvement in a violent incident in Old Market Square resulted in the death of James Hodgkinson. After serving a prison sentence, Dunne is approached by Hodgkinson’s parents, Joan and David, who ask to meet him, leading to a change in his life.

Graham picked up the award for Services to UK Theatre earlier this month at the WhatsOnStage Awards:

The original creative team returns, including production designer Anna Fleischle, lighting designer Robbie Butler, sound designer and composer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, movement director Leanne Pinder and casting director Christopher Worrall.

Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse, and Director of Punch, Adam Penford, said: “We’re glad that audiences across the UK will have the opportunity to see Punch in 2027. It’s a story of hope, forgiveness and human connection, and we’ve seen from its incredible reception in London and New York that it has the same powerful impact, wherever it goes.

“The UK tour also means more opportunities for community engagement work around Punch, ensuring that the play can continue to support the campaigning work of the real-life people whose story we’re telling, at a local level.”

The production will tour to Nottingham Playhouse from 25 January to 6 February 2027, Bath Theatre Royal from 9 to 13 February 2027, Birmingham Rep from 16 to 20 February 2027, Chichester Festival Theatre from 23 to 27 February 2027, Malvern Theatres from 2 to 6 March 2027, Blackpool Grand Theatre from 9 to 13 March 2027, and Curve, Leicester from 16 to 20 March 2027.