The Punch & Judy Show
Introduction to the Show
Ours is a traditional Punch & Judy show, presented with a modern twist. A variety of shows made suitable for your audience and the style of your event. People should soon see that time doesn't stand still, a proper Punch & Judy show evolves to reflect the time and place of its performance.
Punch and Judy does not follow a fixed script but relies on the wit and skill of the puppeteer to delight the audience. While certain characters and plot lines are needed to make the play familiar, each Punchman will add his own sketches, jokes, topical references and ways of obtaining maximum audience participation. It is in these areas that Professor Paul Jackson excels, thanks to his more than 50 years of experience and irrepressibly bubbly personality. As a result, children and adults find our shows both hilarious and spell-binding.
Adaptability is a key aspect of our Punch and Judy. Various sized theatres (booths) are available to fit both large outdoor and small indoor venues - all that is asked is access by car! Please see details of Theatre sizes.
Similarly, the content can be varied to suit the audience. For example, references to the birthday child or sponsoring organisations may be included. Certain optional sketches can be requested as wished e.g. snake charmers, gallows routine (talks on the history), sausage machines, boxing matches.
All puppets are of professional size and quality to add to the authenticity of the experience. A good show should be as your grandparents remembered it but presented to ensure all three generations are involved.
Today's Show
A couple of minions warm up the audience before the show begins. Then a countdown to build anticipation. A monkey appears, tasked with preparing the stage and the poor Punch and Judy Man ‘accidentally’ gets a face full of water. No one was expecting that!
Mr. Punch arrives bouncing around resulting in a pretty peculiar shark impression. Then Judy insists she performs her Can-Can. Now it's the baby's turn, and Mr Punch takes his baby-sitting duties all too literally. It requires an attentive audience to alert Judy to the faux pas. Judy's concerns are initially dispelled when Mr Punch, in fatherly manner, starts teaching the baby to walk - right out of the booth!
As things get further out of hand, the policeman is called. He promptly enlists the crowd to become deputies. The policeman, while arresting Mr. Punch, cautions "I shall take down everything you say...". Mr. Punch's response of "trousers!" hails from a master Punch man of the 1950's and is retained as a nod to tradition - something old, something new, something borrowed but nothing blue!
The Ghost routine may follow or perhaps Judy brings on some sausages, which tempts the crocodile to the stage. The crocodile - as in Peter Pan's story - soon spies a much bigger and possibly tastier lunch.
Luckily a doctor is on-hand to perform the kiss of life on Mr. Punch who recovers sufficiently to hear Beelzebub’s off-stage cry: "I’m coming to get you". Who will win this age-old struggle? Will King Charles make an appearance? Why is "bye-bye baby" an appropriate closing theme? You’ll have to book us to find out!