Tel : 01748 821621 Mob: 07984 495089 / 07801 433993 433993
PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW
Jolly Good Productions present their hugely popular Punch and Judy Show...
Suitable for ALL age groups !
Popular with adults too...
Can entertain large audiences
Essential children’s entertainment
Perfect for corporate events, shows, fun days and parties
Traditional Punch and Judy Show !
Can be indoors or outside
Completely self contained
Own PA system
Party entertainment, see also Magic, Clown, Punch and Judy,
Line Dancing, Hazel’s Jolly Good Fun Party, Circus, Face Painting,
About Punch and Judy
During the seventeenth century marionettes were very popular. Italian showmen came to England to perform their shows which were miniature versions of the full scale operas that were all the rage in fashionable society. The casts of these shows consisted of a series of stock characters one of whom was a fool called Punchinello. This comic character was well liked and would appear in most plays. He was dressed in all white.
By the eighteenth century marionettes had gone out of fashion and English showmen were using glove puppets. They retained Punchinello in the cast but changed his name to Punch. They also abandoned the original white costume if favour of the red tunic of the English Jester. Thus Punch as we know him today was born.
Material for the shows performed by the earl showmen came from varying sources. Some were taken from well known myths and legends such as St George and the dragon. Some were based on historical stories going back to Greek and Roman times. Others were drawn based on the works of Shakespeare or Comedia Del Arte. Punch could make an appearance in any of them !
By the nineteenth century Punch had become the main character of the show and the the storyline was resembling the kind of format we know today. Punch and Judy could be seen on street corners, village greens and fairs around the country. The showmen would move their shows from place to place using a barrow which they would push by hand. They made their living by collecting money from the crowd and usually they had an assistant called a “bottler “ whose job it was to gather an audience and make collections.
These shows were watched mainly by adults and could be quite bawdy and anarchic.
The industrial revolution changed the face of Britain. Factories were built. The population expanded, the nation became the power house of the empire. With this new found prosperity and the arrival of the steam engine came seaside holidays. Wealthy victorian families and the working classes all wanted to go to the seaside to have fun. Of course Mr Punch was waiting to greet them ! The Punch and Judy Show became an essential ingredient of any seaside holiday together with donkey rides and ice cream. Every seaside resort would have at least one resident Punch “ professor “ and sometimes several performing shows on the beach throughout the summer season. Wealthy families returning home also started to hire Punch and Judy Shows for children’s parties which would be held in the drawing room of their large houses.
Punch remained at the seaside entertaining generations of children until the advent of cheap package holidays to Spain in the 1970’s took away his livelihood. With drastically falling numbers it was no longer viable to make a living at the seaside.
Today most Punch professors perform at children’s parties working for a fee. Punch can also be seen at Council and Corporate Events, Fetes and Galas. Punch is seen as primarily children’s entertainment but it was not always so. Even in its present form the show is appreciated and enjoyed by adults. Some older people find the show nostalgic and it reminds them of their childhood and seaside holidays.
The Punch and Judy Show is a wonderful tradition with a long and interesting history. A good show performed well to an appreciative audience is a delight to behold. Punch is part of English folklore and even today is still fantastic entertainment !
Areas covered
The cast of a Punch and Judy Show
The cast of a Punch and Judy Show depends on whose show it is. The usual characters include Mr Punch, Judy, The Baby, Joey The Clown, Policeman and Crocodile. Other characters are The Doctor, The Devil, The Hangman, The Boxers, Toby The Dog, Mr Long Neck, Polly and The Ghost. Sometimes other novelty characters are also introduced such as a famous TV personality or politician in order to make the show seem more modern and topical
What is a swazzle ?
A swazzle or squeaker consists of two pieces of metal, concave in shape, wrapped in tape with a piece through the middle to form a reed. The Punch professor puts this in his mouth and uses it to make the very distinctive high pitched rasping sound of Mr Punch’s voice.
What is a slapstick ?
A slapstick is an early prop used in pantomime. Two long flat pieces of wood are joined together in a shape somewhat resembling a cricket bat. One comic performer pretends to slap the other, usually on the backside and the two pieces of wood hit each other making a resounding slapping sound. Of course nobody gets hurt but the effect is very funny. Mr Punch often uses a slapstick.
