The stage is adorned with a punchbag which gives you a clue as soon as you enter. Now, just to make things clear, this is not a play about boxing, but it is used during the play – the play is so much more! Written by Conor Dye, the play follows a man (Matt Ackermann) who at the beginning of the play is handcuffed to a hospital bed, and it is the playwright’s job to write his story. And, what a story it is!
Tired of his everyday existence, and getting gradually more and more frustrated, man (as I am going to call him) decides that he is going to take out his frustration on anyone who annoys him, which is just about everyone! As he picks his targets, he stumbles upon a homeless man who he conducts a quick moral evaluation on before he decides punch him, but he isn’t quick enough and the homeless uses his street skills and gets there first. Man uses this as a signal to train to become more effective.
As the play evolves, we begin to see a deeply disturbed man, who cannot manage his own rage, and is taking it out on the world, as he could not direct it where is should have landed when he was young and defenceless. Ackerman begins the play rushing his lines a little but soon settles into his role. This is a tough role to play alone, as he must portray other characters, but he manages them all well.
The writing is witty but also slows its pace when it comes to the darker side of the play, man’s childhood history that produced this vile hatred and instinct to hit out. It is interesting that he shares a flat with his childhood friend Mike, but as his best friend has never shared his past with him. This lack of opening up is a running theme throughout the play with both men (Mike and Man), keeping things bottled up instead of sharing their problems.
The play raises the question about boys and men in general, do they find it harder the share their personal issues? It is interesting that one of the characters in the play who tried to mentor Man at the gym, could see that he was a troubled soul and tried to reach out to him. Ackermann successfully communicates this deeply wounded characters frustrations, and this, accompanied by the excellent quality of writing make this a show to be seen at the fringe this year.
The play runs until the 31st August 6.20pm (1hr). To catch the show go to – https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tap-out-or-i-ll-hit-you-again
Reviewer: Caroline Worswick
Reviewed: 17th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: