"The soulful fervour of Punchy! feels like the characters of Disney's Inside Out spend a night on the town with The Rolling Stones! Musical Theatre will never be the same."
~ Pete Beebe, Author of Dream Fisher
After the War, comes the War within.
During the London Blitz, George "Punchy" Armstrong is left physically scarred and feeling worthless. His abusive father's return from the War convinces him he is unlovable. This belief deepens with the mysterious apparition of Punchy's personified Ego pushing him toward a life of crime.
Despite this, Punchy’s personified Soul also emerges, gifting him a love interest, a salt-of-the-earth community, and an unexpected talent—the ability to write and reluctantly sing his songs with the local band earning their keep at the Jameson’s Arms! A humorous and poignant battle ensues as Ego and Soul vie to influence Punchy’s decisions within the formidable terrain of love, loss, and personal transformation. Can Punchy learn to love himself or will Ego lead him to a path of destruction?
Timeless, life-affirming gig-theatre.
51 Ravens brings you a hard-hitting soulful play with music that will amuse and move you in equal measure.
Punchy! Creator and Composer Jack Terroni’s soundtrack transcends the sound of the 1950s,
captivating audiences with a contemporary blend of soul, indie rock, pop and a dash of hip-hop! Bring it on.
“Jack Terroni’s music doesn’t sound like he is trying to write what you THINK a musical ‘is’.
The songs sound very assured.” - Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots)
★★★★ “...a musical that rips up the rulebook and stands in its own league”
ReviewsHub.com
Produced by 51 Ravens, Punchy! is written by Jack Terroni (Sylvia Anderson Award-Winning Composer) and Kevin McMahon (Sir Kenneth Branagh Writing Award Winner). The soundtrack was executive produced by the late, great Steve Brown (West-End Composer of Spend! Spend! Spend!) Punchy! was developed using the Barrett Model of Consciousness, based on best-selling Author, Richard Barrett's 'What my Soul told me'. The original London production was Directed by Tiffany King (Respect: The Aretha Franklin Songbook)
meet the creative team
Jack Terroni
"I didn't set out to write a musical, I've always been put off by the thought of jazz hands and glitter! If I was writing one, we had to do things differently. Punchy! is inspired by the real story of my Mother's working-class childhood in 1950s Islington. I was moved at how a young man with mental health challenges left home one day never to be seen again. Punchy! imagines what could have been if he followed the voice of his Soul and asks you to be courageous enough to do the same..." Jack Terroni (Producer/Composer)
Jack Terroni is an award-winning British Composer whose musical compositions have been honoured with the Sylvia Anderson Award at the esteemed Pinewood Film Studios, in London 2019. Jack and Punchy! He lives in Brisbane, Australia with his wife Georgina and their crazy cat Nox!
Tiffany King
"Punchy's early life was defined by tragedy, circumstance and poor choices; painful snapshots of his life. It is easy to be so consumed by those snapshots, unable to zoom out to gain greater perspective that your life is not reduced to those moments alone. Punchy's resilience is our joy!" ~ Tiffany King
Tiffany is an experienced Director, Choreographer, Writer and Performer. Recent credits: directing, choreographing and writing the Concert show RESPECT: THE ARETHA FRANKLIN SONGBOOK which featured a stellar line-up of artists including Olivier Award winning Actress Amber Riley, Mica Paris, Jaki Graham and Cleopatra Higgins (UK Tour and Arena Tour)
Kevin McMahon
"Although set in the first half of the twentieth century, Punchy! focuses on the timeless challenges facing young and vulnerable people. Whether it's the negative influence of a dysfunctional childhood or the corrosive peer pressure of today's social media - they must learn to trust a true voice amid the clamour: the voice of their Soul. ~ Playwright, Kevin McMahon
Kevin is a playwright and poet. His verse drama “The Claykickers’ Chorus” was a finalist of the 2018 Kenneth Branagh International Drama Writing Award, and was performed at the Windsor Fringe. His poetry has been published in several anthologies and broadcast by the BBC.
Richard Barrett
"This is a show everyone can relate to because we all have our inner fears and conflicts: we just don't talk about them. "Punchy!" brings these conversations alive spectacularly through the personification of his ego and soul. It is a story of the triumph of love over fear." ~ Richard Barrett
Richard Barrett is an author, presenter, coach and internationally recognised thought leader on the evolution of human values in business and society. His book 'What my Soul told me' is the source text upon which Punchy! is based.
Steve Brown
Steve executive produced Punchy! The Musical Soundtrack with Jack Terroni. Steve is a triple-platinum selling record producer with the album Seasons of My Soul by Rumer (Atlantic Records), followed by the acclaimed MOBO-winning artist Laura Mvula’s platinum debut Sing to the Moon for RCA. Theatre includes: music/lyrics for the musicals Spend Spend Spend (Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards for Best New Musical), and Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera at The Park Theatre, which opened in 2022 to a rapturous reception.
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Punchy! is inspired by the thought leading work of author Richard Barrett and his book ‘What My Soul Told Me.’