Why me? at Punch
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter.
Yesterday, (Thursday 27th March), the Why me? team attended Punch, the play about Restorative Justice at the Young Vic theatre.
The play explores the story of Jacob Dunne, a man who aged 19 years old, went on a night out and threw a single punch that resulted in the death of 28-year-old James Hodgkinson. Jacob was given a prison sentence for the manslaughter of James, and later agreed to meet James’ parents, Joan and David, face-to-face. This Restorative Justice meeting was transformative for everyone involved, and Jacob and Joan continue to advocate for Restorative Justice and raise awareness of the dangers of throwing a single punch together.
The play brings this story to life, with Julie Hesmondhalgh playing Joan and David Shields playing Jacob.
We were blown away by the quality of the performance, with a clever and creative script from playwright James Graham, and astonishing performances from the cast of six.
David Shields’ representation of Jacob was a powerful journey through his childhood of drugs and violence to the transformation he gained after meeting the parents of the man he killed. It examined the impact that growing up in The Meadows estate in Nottingham and his ADHD and autism diagnosis and struggles at school had on Jacob’s trajectory.
The portrayal of the restorative process was relatively accurate, with only minor changes made under creative license. Ground rules, preparation meetings, staggered arrival times and the role of the facilitator were all represented well. Nicola Bancroft, the real-life facilitator from Remedi was a key character, explaining the process to the audience and pointing out the fact that often Restorative Justice is portrayed inaccurately in the media. James Graham even dropped key facts and figures into the script, including how Restorative Justice can reduce reoffending.
What struck me as I looked out across the audience in the Young Vic, was the number of people each night who will gain a true understanding of the restorative process, who may never have come across it before. This fantastic platform is a unique opportunity to reach the general public and spark conversations about how Restorative Justice could benefit their lives too.
We are delighted that James Graham has brought such a platform to Restorative Justice, helping to address the huge lack of awareness around it. The play was a powerful and unique representation of Restorative Justice, reaching vast new audiences who may not have been aware of the restorative process.
The play is running until the 26th of April this year. We hope to see it continue to thrive and urge everyone to see it if you can.