Local History
storyline but the show normally starts with Punch and Judy in fond embrace, kissing and dancing. All is well until Judy departs off stage leaving Punch in charge of the baby; a task at which he proved totally inept. When Judy returns she is outraged. Then Punch produces his stick and matters get out-of-hand, leading to the arrival of the policeman, and other characters. In the end Punch triumphs over all these adversaries. Mr. Punch has lived through the reign of fifteen kings and queens all the way from Charles II to our present Queen. He has also survived major social changes and shifts in public attitudes. His often violent conduct towards Judy and other members of the cast, disrespect for the police service, etc. has over the years resulted in numerous conflicts with the guardians of moral and public values.
Once the tide of
political correctness threatened to submerge even Mr. Punch, but he has managed to survive and become a champion of common sense, often causing his opponents to be shown up for their pettiness. In 2004 Bodmin Town Council appeared foolish in the national press when they
the arts especially Punch and Judy’.
banned Mr. Punch from a social event. Fortunately that tide has now turned, and compared to the graphic violence of modern computer games played by children Punch and Judy now appears quite harmless. These days a lot of Punch performers call themselves ‘Professor’. This grandiose title seems to have originated before Victorian times, when the Punch and Judy men were competing with street actors, hawkers and costermongers for an audience. There are probably more ‘Professors’ performing today that ever before. Some official recognition of their contribution to our national life came in the 2004 honours list when ‘Professor’ John Styles was awarded an MBE for ‘services to
The Big Grin is a national celebration of Mr Punch’s 350th birthday. There will be a big birthday party on Saturday 12th May in Covent Garden Piazza, London, where there will be a mass gathering of UK Professors joined by performers and guests from around the world. Locally all are welcome to the
Family Festival of Puppetry at the Wharf, Tavistock on Wednesday 25th July, Thursday 26th July, and Saturday 28th July 2012 which will feature Professor ‘Goodvibes’ from St Teath, Cornwall, Professor Dan Bishop from Tavistock, Paolo Rech, a puppeteer from the north of Italy with Harlequin, and Georges Vetters from Liege, Belgium, with popular puppet hero Tchantches. Tavistock Museum has an exhibition ‘Celebrating 350 Years of Mr. Punch, our National Puppet’ on display this season until the end of October.
SUMMER TO SEE: THE BIG GRIN Celebrating Mr. Punch’s 350th birthday in 2012. Open every day 1100 – 1500
Easter Saturday 7th April till the end of October 2012.
ALSO....DON’T MISS !!!
The Family Festival Of Puppetry at The Wharf, Tavistock
Wednesday 25th; Thursday 26th and Friday 28th July. Pick Up A Leaflet
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21 VISIT TAVISTOCK MUSEUM THIS
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