Biography
We trace the history of England's favourite puppet characters back to the satirical tradition of the ancient Greek theatre, as well as looking at developments in the field of puppetry today.
Punch and Judy: the basics
Punch and Judy, and their knockabout antics, have been entertaining people of all ages since the 17th century.
Before Punch and Judy
Puppets have a very long history. They were first used as elements of religious ritual and are referred to in writings of the Greek classical era. Herodotus, in the fifth century BC, mentions the use of puppets controlled by strings in the context of ritual. As far as he is concerned, it was the Egyptians who invented string puppets.
Punch and Judy: Biography
The earliest written description of an English performance is in Samuel Pepys’s diary entry for May 9, 1662 (a date that is now traditionally considered Mr Punch’s birthday).
Puppeting Today
Most English children first experience the wonderful world of puppets at either a Punch and Judy show or, most probably these days, on TV. Generations have been brought up with Muffin the Mule, Pinky and Perky, Andy Pandy, Thunderbirds, Sooty and Sweep, the Muppets or the Hoobs.
