The tour will open at Nottingham Playhouse from the 13th March until the 4th April before travelling to Leeds Playhouse (7th to the 11th April) and Theatre Royal Plymouth (14th to the 18th April).
Casting has now been announced for the upcoming tour of Punch, following its West End and Broadway runs.
It has been confirmed that Elan Butler (The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, Southwark Playhouse and UK Tour; Masters of the Air, Apple TV+) as Raf and Sam; Matthew Flynn (The Winter’s Tale, RSC; Say Nothing, Disney/FX) as the father of James Hodgkinson, David; Olivier-nominated Grace Hodgett Young (Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre/St James Theatre; Hadestown, Lyric Theatre) as Clare and Nicola; Jack James Ryan (Sing Street, Lyric Hammersmith; Coronation Street, ITV) as Jacob; Laura Tebbutt (Mrs Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre; School of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre) as Jacob’s mum and Wendy; and Finty Williams (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Tour; Run Away, Netflix) as James’ mother, Joan will star in James Graham’s play.
Adam Penford, Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse and Director of Punch, said:“I’m excited to bring Punch back home to Nottingham after the production’s success in the West End and on Broadway. The all-new cast will bring their own take to this important story, honouring what these real-life people achieved. As ever, utmost in all our minds, is the responsibility of telling the account with respect and integrity.”
Alongside the play, a number of strands of community engagement activities will give a platform to those affected by its themes. A Talking Circle structure will provide a space for audiences to gather and reflect on the show, and post-show discussions on related themes in the play will be led by expert external speakers. Audience members and key community stakeholders will be welcomed to take part.
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.
A powerful story of hope, humanity, and the possibility of change.
The creative team behind the production includes: Production Designer Anna Fleischle (Death Of A Salesman, Broadway; 2:22 A Ghost Story, Young Vic Theatre); Lighting Designer Robbie Butler (How to Win Against History, Bristol Old Vic; Death in Venice, Welsh National Opera); Sound Designer and Composer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite (Work It Out, HOME; Lost and Found, Factory International); Movement Director Leanne Pinder (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Mountview; Disruption, The Park Theatre); and Casting Director Christopher Worrall CDG (The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Nottingham Playhouse; Call the Midwife, BBC).