- Venue
- St Paul’s Church Garden
- Date
- Sunday, May 14, 2023
11:00 AM - Address
- Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED
- Location
- London
- Organiser
- Alternative Arts
Punch & Judy Professors and Puppeteers from all over the country and abroad will gather to perform in the garden of the actors Church, St Paul’s, in Covent Garden this May for the 48th annual event. The Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival was first held in 1975, initiated by local arts organisation Alternative Arts, and has since been enjoyed by thousands of children and adults. The location is particularly poignant, for the Church marks the spot where diarist Samuel Pepys recorded the first sighting of the celebrated street-performer, Mr Punch, in 1662.
The line-up includes a host of talent in the puppetry tradition, as well as folk music, maypole-dancing, clowns, food and stalls provided by local community groups and charities. All are invited to celebrate Mr Punch’s birthday and the art of puppetry:
11am – GRAND PROCESSION around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden starting from the Church garden led by the Superior Brass Band with a Birthday toast to Mr Punch by the commemorative plaque on the Church wall in the Central Piazza.
12noon – SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE with Mr Punch in the Pulpit.
12.30pm to 5.30pm – PUNCH & JUDY and PUPPET SHOWS, Puppet Workshop, Stalls, Refreshments, Folk Music by The Bunch of Squares String Band, Dancing and Clowns.
The British Puppet & Model Theatre Guild, the Punch & Judy Fellowship, and The Punch & Judy Club will all be represented. There will be a Puppet Workshop run by Emosh Puppets, Stalls run by local community groups and charities including the Covent Garden Community Association, and refreshments provided by The Food Chain who raise funds to help support people living with HIV in London.
Punch & Judy Professors and entertainers attending include:-
Prof Bryan Clarke, Geoff Felix, David Wilde, James Arnott, Daniel Hanton, Paul Goddard, Damien Weiss (France), Martyn Cooper, Chris Drewitt, Emosh Puppets, Joseph Peek, Josh Neville, Rob Styles, Clown Gingernutt, Glyn Edwards, Will Cousins, Cath March, Ivan Walters, Martyn Cooper, Prof Patel, Martin Bridle, Tony Lamont (Australia),Lord Pandrum, The Fools Puppet Theatre Co, Jo Hadley(Finland), Prof Jo Jo (France), Richard Robinson, Jester Jim, Paul Wheeler, Prof James, The Pink Policeman and many more
This event is produced by Alternative Arts and The May Fayre Committee with the support of The Punch & Judy Fellowship, The Punch & Judy Club, St Paul’s Church and Westminster City Council.
Everyone is welcome to celebrate Mr Punch’s 361st birthday. Admission is FREE.
