Punch

Punch comes to the Belgrade Theatre for one week from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 April 2027. It's written by James Graham, who's behind Dear England and This House, and directed by Adam Penford, the Artistic Director of Nottingham Playhouse. The play is based on Jacob Dunne's memoir Right from Wrong, and it tells the true story of a Nottingham teenager whose impulsive punch on a night out had fatal consequences. After serving time in prison, Jacob is contacted by Joan and David, the parents of the man he killed, James Hodgkinson, and the relationship that follows sparks a profound transformation.

It's a production that's travelled a fair distance before reaching Coventry. It premiered at Nottingham Playhouse and has since played the Young Vic, the West End and Broadway, with simultaneous openings in New York and London. Along the way it's picked up a few awards: Best New Play at the 2026 Olivier Awards, the Critics' Circle Award for Best New Play, and the London Standard Award for Best Play, as well as the Theatre Prize at the Sky Arts Awards 2026.

The Belgrade run is part of a 12-stop tour across England, Scotland and Ireland, and the Dublin dates give the play its Irish premiere. It's a true story about a single moment and the long, complicated aftermath that follows it, and it's one of the most decorated new plays of the last couple of years. The run is short — just five days — so if you're going to see it, you'll want to pick your night early.

Performances are at 7.30pm every evening from Tuesday to Saturday, with matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets start from £20, which includes the booking fee.