"Punch" by James Graham

Nottingham Playhouse.

"Punch" is one of those plays that come along quite rarely as it's based on the book "Right From Wrong" by Jacob Dunne, which in turn is based on a true event concerning the author of the book. It's also centred at the heart of Nottingham and the true events that happened here, a few years ago.

Anyone who has been brought up in Nottingham, like myself, will know all the street names and pubs mentioned in the play and immediately feel part of the story.

The play tells the true story of how a bereaved mother, Joan Scourfield, helped her son's attacker turn his life around. James Hodgkinson died after a stranger threw a single punch while he was visiting Nottingham to watch a Test match in 2011. His killer, 19-year-old Jacob Dunne, was jailed for manslaughter.

After a "restorative justice" meeting with Mr Hodgkinson's parents, his mother accepted Dunne's actions had been a "stupid mistake". The couple then encouraged Mr Dunne to go to university, where he achieved a first in criminology.

Jacob attended rehearsals for "Punch", advising on details of the story, making sure that the story was told accurately and with sensitivity. That kind of input is so very rare in theatre, film or any media that retells a true story, and invaluable to the cast and crew.

Put yourself in the shoes of Joan; would you be able to be as forgiving as she was to Jacob? In this case, although Ms Scourfield lost her son, she also helped to save Jacob. As you can expect, this play is as emotive as it is powerful.

All, apart from David Shields, play various characters as well as their main roles.

Julie Hesmondhalgh takes on the role of Joan, and you'd think that an actor who is so well known for playing Hayley Cropper in "Coronation Street" and being in the recent "Mr Bates Vs the Post Office", among other wonderful TV roles, would straight away be seen as her TV characters. No! Julie is an incredible character actor and she makes you believe that you are watching Joan Scourfield, with all the emotions that go with the character. The scene where she and her husband finally sit down face to face with Jacob is quite awkward to watch, and the telling of her being in the hospital at her son's final minutes is truly heartbreaking. You could hear the reaction from the audience in the silent auditorium as their hearts broke with her.

Emma Pallant is Jacob's Mother, Wendy and Sandra. There were times when Emma exited one scene and went round the corner to appear as one of her other characters, with a swift removal of a cardigan on her journey. There are so many scenes here that really tug at your heartstrings, and I don't wish to sound flippant at that statement, but you do allow yourself to feel what the characters are feeling, and the scene when Jacob comes back to the new home to his mother is enough to start you off again. 

Tony Hirst plays David, Derek and Jacob's Dad. Like the other actors, playing several roles gives an actor chance to play a wide range of emotions and that is so true here. From the drunken vest wearing Father to Jacob, who does not give the best advice to his son, to James' Father. You could not get two Fathers further apart in character and the latter character's emotions flood from the stage and is clearly visible in Tony's eyes. The scene near the end where he offers his hand to Jacob to shake will also get you right in the heart.

Shalisa James-Davis plays Clare, Teacher and Nicola, the woman assigned as his Restorative Justice person. Each character Shalisa plays is visibly and vocally completely different. When you see that Jacob has turned his life around, and is now in a relationship with Clare, and a Father himself to a baby boy, you get a lovely warm feeling from this couple.

Alec Boaden plays Raf, DS Villiers and Sam. Visibly these characters are so different; Raf being Jacob's, quite literally, partner in crime; a proper Meadows lad. DS Villiers is the police officer in charge of Jacob's arrest, and Sam is Jacob's younger brother. It's like seeing three different actors as Alec morphs into the characters. There is a scene when Jacob is talking to his younger brother which reveals different parts of both characters that we did not see before; another emotional scene between the pair.

Jacob Dunne is played by Derbyshire actor David Shields. David is on stage most of the time, and at times, with a quick change of the lighting we see comparisons between the young Jacob and the more mature Jacob. His energy levels are off the scale as he darts around the set, painting pictures in your mind of the layout of the Meadows area and the pub crawls. You can see how the "accident" actually affected Jacob, especially with the meetings with his victim's parents, and also with the way that he tentatively turned his life around.

Directed by Adam Penford, this has been four years in the making, but so worth the wait. This could be possibly the most impactful piece of theatre you've seen, especially as it's a true story. Adam's choice of cast could not have been better chosen and the blend of laughter, and there's plenty of that in "Punch", and the emotional scenes are as well balanced as a BLT sandwich. Just a beautiful piece of theatre, and possibly the best piece of theatre that Adam has directed.

The set is based around a pedestrian subway in The Meadows, where Jacob grew up and designed by Anna Fleischle. If you're old enough to remember Maid Marian Way's subways leading to a concrete circle, then that is what the main section is reminiscent of. It also rises on both sides, bridging over the subway setting.

Lighting design is by Robbie Butler. This plays a big part of the play, giving dramatic effect to the dramatic storyline, taking you from the bright disco settings of the pub/clubs of town, to the shady subway streets and back alleys of The Meadows area.

Sound design is by Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, who also composed the original music for the play.

A few weeks ago I was chatting with Emma and Alec about the play and commented on the Nottingham accent, which us locals don't really notice, but Alec said that ours is one of the hardest accents to get right for anyone who is not from the area. That said there's a vocal coach to train the non Nottingham actors involved to get the accent correct, and that person is Sally Hague. Shalisa, Emma and Alec being Nottingham born and bred and David only being from over the border in Derbyshire.

I try and steer away from terms like "journey" or "rollercoaster" but whatever term you want to use, this play has "it". The change in a person from A to B in their life can sometimes be, literally, life changing, but through understanding and forgiveness, you can change a person's life and future. I don't know if I'd ever be as strong a person as Joan if I were in the same situation, but that just shows the sort of strong person Joan is. Losing a loved one would make a person bitter and angry, which I am sure Joan was at one stage of her grieving process, but her strength and forgiveness has created a person who has turned out to be a true Saviour to many other people who may have found themselves in Jacob's shoes.

This is a play that could change lives going forward, as it's story has done in the past, and should be seen by as many people, young and old, as possible to get across that message of right and wrong, forgiveness and redemption.

"Punch" is at the Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 25 May and has a 12+ guidance. 

Photos by Marc Brenner.