Things to do
A few suggestions…
- Many Punch and Judy performers make their own puppets. You could try making your own (start with papier mâché and a small balloon…) and maybe even your own little theatre stand too? The elements of Punch and Judy shows are often the same but the details vary, so write your own script – then put these elements all together, and perform!
- Of course, you may not be quite such an exhibitionist, so would you rather watch a show instead? You can find them right across the country, all year round. See if Punch and Judy is really as weird as you remembered…
- Toy theatres were popular family entertainment in the 19th century, and you can now buy “Victorian Toy Theatres” – the stage, scenery and characters are all press-out cardboard, and it’s all nice and easy to assemble.
- Watch the classic film Charade (1963), starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, which includes a Punch and Judy scene. There's also The Punch And Judy Man (1963), a comedy with Tony Hancock playing the lead. You could also see the 2005 film adaptation of Oliver Twist directed by Roman Polanski. Can you spot John Styles' Punch and Judy show?
- Or make a swazzle! (A what?) For tips, go to http://www.punchandjudy.com/swazzle. But be warner: it's harder than it looks. (Or at least, the ICONS team found it quite beyond them...)
