The PUNCH & JUDY CLUB
A Guild of the very Best Performers
We were 'Born on the 4th July' (Independence Day) 2015.
That day a group of likeminded friends became The Punch and Judy Club.
All top notch Punch performers, we decided to band together to celebrate the little puppet show that means so much to all of us.
We had toyed with calling ourselves The 'Punch Guild'.
But there is already a Puppet & Model Theatre Guild.
David Wilde told us the the great Punch Showman PERCY PRESS had always liked the idea of a Punch 'CLUB' as it sounded friendly and approachable .
So 'CLUB' it is.
Percy Press
We are are so much more than 'Punch Performers'.
Between us, Clubsters are Puppet Makers and Theatre Builders, Archivists, Teachers, Authors, Carvers, Painters, Puppet Collectors, Film & TV Puppeteers and pretty nifty on a sewing machine!
We officially announced our formation to Michael Dixon and the Puppet Guild at a celebratory performance day they held in Wolverhampton a few weeks later.
We had a Mr.Punch puppet there representing every Founding Club Member. The two who couldn't make the long journey had proxy stand-ins.
A 'Poulton-Punch' for Mark, Tony Clarke was a Punch his father had carved.
We were less lucky with our 'in-person' photos as we choose a very gloomy corner of the venue.
It took pretty drastic photoshop to prove Chris Drewitt was there at all.
My first attempt at patches for our pelmets...collectors items now.
These ones had our individual names embroidered on.
In the end, Dan Hanton came up with a better Club logo.
So we had that made into our embroidered patches instead.
Part of the joy of being in any 'club' is the validation you get from being with likeminded folk.
Let's face it , when you are a grown man who still plays with dolls : it's good to know you are not alone !
( L to R ) Geoff Felix and myself enjoying a rare visit from our only non-UK Clubster DAMIEN WEIS.
Damien lives near Lyon in France.
He is an excellent performer of the French equivalent of a Punch show: Guignol
Damien also excells at the regular sized Guignol too.
In France he is highly respected not only as a performer, but also a carver and maker of exquisite puppets.
Damien with his self devised one man show.
A 'mini' version of Guignol for kindergarten.
Club Membership is 'Invitation Only' with proposed members needing to be voted in unanimously by everyone.
Even so, our numbers have grown a fair bit since 2015...
As the song says : "All Good Pals and Jolly Good Company !"
A gathering of Clubsters & puppets.
Front row are the legendary Terry Herbert and Bryan Clarke.
Bryan has been making puppets and performing for over six decades now.
We are so proud and honoured to have him with us in The Club
One of the Clubs most irrepressible characters - GEOFF FELIX.
As well as making truly gorgeous puppets, Geoff curates an Archive on Punch and Judy that must be one of the most comprehensive in the World.
Getting a visit from fellow 'Clubsters' is always the highlight of my Summer season up at the Heights of Abraham.
Chris Drewitt visits the famous Codman show on Llandudno Promenade
Although it's hard to tell in this photo, Jason uses a printed photographic replica of his family procesnium.
At over 150 years old the spectacular wooden proscenium was worse for wear from the harsh salty seaside air
Demonstrating that our 'Clubsters' have talents that extend way beyond just performing good shows: Here's the real thing in 2024 after CHRIS DREWITT has worked his restoration & painting magic on it.
It's good now for another 150 years of shows.
It used to be that the Covent Garden Mayfayre was the only time us Clubsters gathered together in a big group.
But in 2023 a new Festival has started in Bognor Regis.
All thanks to the historical connection Bognor has as the film location for the Tony Hancock movie "the Punch and Judy Man"
PILTDOWN GLORY :
The famous fictional icecream sundae from the Hancock movie "The Punch & Judy Man"
DAN HANTON has designed websites for several of our Club Members.
He also made and curates our Club Website.
Cheers Dan.
If you want to book a quality Punch & Judy show, that is genuinely crowd-pleasing, check our website to find your nearest Clubster.
Of course , if you live in The Midlands within about a thirty mile radius of Staffordshire ...
... then that's ME !
