Theatre Group trip to see Punch

Having directed a play in 2016 at Bromley Little Theatre about Restorative Justice, I was excited to see James Graham’s play which also covered this. Like “The Long Road”, Graham’ play was about much more – in this case the deprivation of a Nottingham council estate, one parent families and the wider 'family’ often high on drugs and alcohol and spoiling for a fight. 

The play is based on the true story of a young man, training to be a paramedic, who came face to face with Jacob, resulting in him receiving a punch that killed him. Jacob was convicted of manslaughter and served 14 months in prison. When he came out he was homeless and adrift, but luckily, he was helped and turned his life around. His victim’s parents decided to write to him because they wanted to know why he’d punched their son and from that, over a two year period, had face to face meetings followed by talks in schools by James’ mother and Jacob on the damage done with just one punch. The compelling script, imaginative set, lighting, sound and choreography, plus outstanding performances by the small cast playing multiple roles, and the brilliance of the young man playing Jacob, confirmed my belief in the power of theatre.

Contributed by Nikki Packham