PUNK OFF! at the Dominion: A Spirited Salute to Punk and New Wave — If Not a Revolutionary One
A lively jukebox tribute with heart, nostalgia, and a phenomenal band — though it sometimes swaps punk’s glorious grit for polish and pantomime.
For one night only, PUNK OFF! The Sounds of Punk and New Wave took over London’s Dominion Theatre, closing its UK tour with a loud, loving tribute to the anthems of a movement. Somewhere between a gig, a history lesson, and a high-energy tribute show, the production offered up familiar bangers from The Sex Pistols, Blondie, The Clash, Buzzcocks, Talking Heads, and more — all delivered with full volume and big-hearted enthusiasm.
At the centre of the chaos is a genuinely brilliant band: Adam Evans, Ric Yarborough, Phil Sherlock, Lazy Violet, and Reece Davies. They carry the weight of the show, gliding from snarling punk riffs to sleek new wave hooks with total conviction. If any part of Punk Off! captures the raw spirit of the original scene, it’s them — tight, immersive, and unselfconsciously loud.
Framing the evening is narrator Kevin Kennedy, who walks the audience through the birth and rise of punk, from McLaren and Westwood’s SEX shop to the Bill Grundy incident. While the intention is to provide shape and context, the delivery often feels more like a string of headlines than a compelling narrative arc. At times, these interludes slow the momentum — particularly when competing with the band tuning up behind him — and younger audience members may struggle to connect with the shorthand nostalgia.
There’s also choreography from Louisa Clark, with dancers providing an energetic throughline of pogo jumps, punky struts, and fashion throwbacks. It’s spirited and fun, but it’s hard to ignore that punk — by definition — was scrappy, anarchic, and unfiltered. In contrast, this production is well-drilled and West End-ready. At moments, it flirts with becoming a Disneyfied riot, where the sweat is choreographed and the rebellion is rehearsed.
Still, the second half — with its focus on new wave — finds a better rhythm. The storytelling loosens, the visuals sharpen, and the crowd, unbothered by any tonal debates, is up and dancing by the final numbers. Rebel Rebel, Cool for Cats, and My Way hit especially hard, proving that when the music leads, the crowd follows.
PUNK OFF! isn’t trying to be the 100 Club, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s a glossy, loving mixtape made for fans who want to relive the songs that shaped a generation — or pass them on to the next. It may not always capture the radical edge of the genre it celebrates, but it absolutely captures the affection. And sometimes, that’s what people came for.
Directed and Book by: Ged Graham
Director of Music: Adam Evans
Produced by: Prestige Productions
Choreography and Staging by: Louisa Clark
Sound Engineering by: Alistair Penman
Website: Buy Tickets | Punk Off!
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
