David Shields as Jacob Dunne in Punch. Photo by Marc BrennerThe first thing to note about the production, is its provenance. Wunderkind playwright James Graham has created a stage adaptation of Jacob Dunne’s autobiographical book Right From Wrong which tells of his juvenile misadventures and a momentary act of foolish aggression which resulted in the death of a young off-duty paramedic, James Hodgkinson. Following a court case in which Jacob was sentenced to a prison term for manslaughter, he sought help and rehabilitation, largely through the encouragement of Joan and David Hodgkinson, James’s devastated parents.
The sheer energy which runs through the production as directed by Adam Penford depends on a powerful central performance from David Shields as Jacob, a lad from the Meadows Estate in Nottingham who, on the back of a drug and alcohol fuelled day, lands a single punch on a stranger outside a pub as members of his estate gang kick-off. It is a mindless act with tragic repercussions.
Teasing-out the threads of Dunne’s story, PUNCH proves as much a social commentary on the haves and have nots and disparity of opportunity between the classes, as it is a discourse on violence and social unrest. Anna Fleischle’s set design amounts to a central playing area surrounded by traversable arched railings, enabling the cast to invest considerable movement to proceedings as they dash around the 1970s concrete conurbation, which acts as their playground and is so intimidating to the unfamiliar, that even police incursions are a rare occurrence.
As justice is seen to be served, while wholesale disruption and heartbreak are wrought upon those innocent friends and family members caught up in events, the various arms of social services attempt to broker reconciliation and understanding. The 6 cast members (each of whom has been with the production since inception) contribute a variety of characters which add humour and pathos, often transitioning by means of a simple and effective change of a cardigan, hat, poncho or hair grip. Their power to drive the narrative which swirls around Jacob, adds weight and dynamism to events and generates a genuine company feel to proceedings. The players are: Emma Pallant, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Shalisha James-Davis, Tony Hirst and Alec Boaden.
The emotional power which the play generates, gradually builds and takes ahold of the audience, particularly in its latter stages and was palpable on opening night. Among those sitting in the stalls, discreetly wiping away tears were Fiona Shaw, Harriet Walter, Ben Daniels, Jason Isaacs and a host of theatre critics! They were in good company, surrounded by a full auditorium of hushed patrons — aside from the occasional sound of stifled sniffs.
PUNCH continues at Apollo Theatre until 29th Nov and runs 2 hours 25mins including 20min interval.
