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Punch and Judy

Career Ideas

Bored at work? Why not try one of these?

Punch professor


Clive Chandler standing by puppet booth
Clive Chandler and his puppet booth
© Clive Chandler
Being a Punch professor can be approached in many ways. That said, here is the advice of Clive Chandler, of the Punch and Judy College of Professors: “Check out all the books on Punch that you can. These will give you information on the background and practical ‘how to do it’ information.

“A good place for books is the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. Get to see as many shows as possible. You will soon realise that shows vary both in style and quality. It is worth watching out for festivals, where it may be possible to see several performers at the same time.”


All this information is on the PuppeteersUK website, where you will also find details of national organisations. At the same site, check makers and providers of puppets, props and sets. Finally, make personal contact with one or more of the top performers. You may be surprised how helpful they will be to someone who is taking a genuine interest. Remember: none of the top professors would be where they are now if somebody hadn’t helped them when they were starting out...


Contacts


Puppeteer


If seeing a Punch and Judy shows has inspired you to learn the ancient and fascinating art of puppetry, how about becoming a puppeteer?


First visit www.puppeteersUK.com and check out all the information on what’s going on in the puppetry community; also watch out for courses and training opportunities. The directory will provide valuable information on contacting puppet companies and individual makers. The Little Angel Theatre in London runs occasional courses and workshops.


Contacts

  • The Little Angel Puppet Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN. Tel: 020 7226 1787. Email: info@littleangeltheatre.com Web: www.littleangeltheatre.com


Puppet-maker


To become a puppet-maker start by visiting www.puppeteersUK.com and look at the information on what’s going on in the puppetry community, plus courses and training opportunities. The directory will provide valuable information on contacting puppet companies and individual makers.


Carpenter


Work as a carpenter making Punch and Judy booths is extremely limited, but general carpentry work can be found everywhere – for building or mechanical engineering services, local authorities, building contractors, shop fitting companies and private commissions. Many carpenters are self-employed.


You will need three to five GCSEs, ideally including English, maths, and science and technology. It is also possible to start work directly after leaving school and train as craftsmen/women while working by going to college or a training centre to get further qualifications (NVQs/SVQs.)


If you want to achieve technician level, you will usually need four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), A levels/H grades, or a vocational college qualification. Later, you could run your own company or work in construction management.


Further information


Contacts

  • CITB – Construction Skills, Bircham Newton Training Centre, Bircham Newton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6RH. Tel: 0808 100 0055. Web: www.citb.co.uk/careers (for careers advisors, teachers and adults) and www.bconstructive.co.uk (for young people).
  • Construction Confederation, 55 Tufton Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3QL. Tel: 0870 8989 090. Web: www.thecc.org.uk
  • Women and Manual Trades, 52-54 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT. Tel: 020 7251 9192. Web: www.wamt.org


Cartoonist


Does the sharp-tongued satire of Punch inspire you to voice your own opinions, launching a visual attack on whichever deserving issue catches your eye? If so, you will be continuing a long and necessary tradition.


A specific qualification in cartooning is not available, although some illustration degree/HND courses develop relevant skills.


Nowadays, most cartoonists/illustrators decide to do a degree or an HND in Illustration.


To be a good cartoonist you will need an incisive wit, an unsparing eye for detail and excellent drawing skills. Drawing requires continual practice to achieve total ease of expression. Most cartoonists are freelance, with the possibility of contracts offered by newspapers for contributions to a regular column. It is a highly competitive field and can take some time to become established.


Applicants for degree/HND courses in Illustration are usually required to have achieved a Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design) and to present a portfolio. Other preliminary routes and courses exist for mature students and under-represented groups.


Cartoonists can attend training events and meetings run by The Cartoon Art Trust, the Comics Creators Guild and the Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain. These events are useful to keep up to date with the latest trends.


Most courses have specific entry requirements – a higher education course is usually preceded by a one or two year course at further education level. See http://www.hotcourses.com/ucas/


Professional bodies offer good networking opportunities for established cartoonists. Some cartoonists may move into specialist roles or teaching.


Further information:


Contacts

  • British Cartoonists’ Association, 3 Clapham Park Terrace, Lyham Road, London SW2 5EA.
  • The Cartoon Art Trust, 7 The Brunswick Centre, Bernard Street, London WC1N 1AF. Tel: 020 7278 7172. Web: www.cartooncentre.com
  • Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain (CCGB), 29 Ulverley Crescent, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands B92 8BJ. Tel: 0121 706 7652. Web: www.ccgb.org.uk
  • Comics Creators Guild (CCG), 22 St James Mansions, West End Lane, West Hampstead, London NW6 2AA. Web: www.comicscreators.org.uk
  • Creative & Cultural Skills, 1 Marshall Court, Marshall Street, Leeds LS11 9YP. Tel: 0113 244 6879. Web: www.cciskills.org.uk

Police constable


If you are keenly aware of the injustices meted out to the other characters in Punch and Judy, you might have what it takes to become a police officer.


If you are thinking of applying to join the police, you will be encouraged to take either a two- or four-year education programme in a criminal justice-related field.


Applicants for the police force will be selected after a number of tests to assess their suitability. There are no formal academic requirements. Personal qualities are important, such as confidence, honesty, courage, capacity for fast reactions and acting on your own initiative, physical fitness and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. It would be helpful to speak a foreign language.


Once accepted, you will be given 12-14 weeks’ training in a police academy, followed by working as a constable on the beat or at a police station.


Further information


Undertaker/funeral director


Punch ensures a steady supply of work to the undertaker - and it’s true to say that in the real world there's always plenty of work for undertakers too.


It is not necessary to have any formal qualifications to be a funeral director. It is easier to begin as an adult, rather than a school leaver, since a mature outlook and experience are highly valued. Training is often provided by employers and there are a number of relevant qualifications to aim for.


The profession offers good opportunities for promotion within larger national and international companies.


Further details


Contacts

  • The British Institute of Funeral directors, 140 Leamington Road, Coventry CV3 6JY. Tel: 024 7669 7160. Web: www.bifd.org.uk
  • Co-operative Funeral Services Managers’ Association, 3 Southfield Road, Holcombe Brook, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire BL0 9ST. Tel: 0161 796 6033.
  • National Association of Funeral Directors, 618 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 1AA. Tel: 0845 230 1343. Web: www.nafd.org.uk


Sausage-maker/meat process worker


Sausages are in our national psyche and for some English people their first memories are of seeing them thrown around by a papier mache Punch in the park or on the beach.

For those that make sausages, work is based in abattoirs, with catering butchers, wholesale meat factories, or at a meat manufacturers. As a meat process worker you will be involved in the slaughter of animals and production of sausages and of various other meat products.


It is very demanding work in relatively cold conditions. You need to be physically fit because there is a lot of lifting of carcasses involved. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it can be difficult for companies to recruit staff but this means there are positive prospects for employment.


No formal qualifications are needed, but GCSEs/S grades are useful for career progression to supervisory or technical levels, and employers often offer training if required.


Further information


Contacts

  • British Meat Processors Association, 12 Cock Lane, London EC1A 9BU. Tel: 020 7329 0776. Web: www.bmpa.uk.com
  • Meat Training Council, PO Box 141, Winterhill House, Snowdon Drive, Milton Keynes MK6 1YY. Tel: 01908 231062. Web: www.meattraining.org.uk
  • The Worshipful Company of Butchers, Butchers Hall, 87 Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7EB. Tel: 020 7606 4106. Web: www.butchershall.com


Marriage guidance counsellor


The marriage of Punch and Judy would have presented quite considerable challenges to any marriage guidance counsellor, or couples counsellor. These days, however, the job is an opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives.

It is possible to work either as a self-employed or employed marriage guidance counsellor, and you can work flexible hours or even as a volunteer.

About 2,000 counsellors work for Relate, which offers thorough training programmes, backed up by support and supervision. There is strong support and encouragement for personal growth and development, and a broad range of training is available, including specialisation. Web: http://www.relate.org.uk/workforrelate/


The national charity aims to maintain a high standard of service by recruiting people who have the right personal qualities and life experience. Begin by contacting your nearest Relate centre, and attend one of its information sessions. Details will be given about training placements and courses on offer.


You can also provide relationship counselling, after training, from your own private practice in areas not catered for by Relate centres. Working under license, you will still receive supervision from Relate personnel, but can set your own fees.