Punch and Judy facts for kids
Punch and Judy is a very old and popular puppet show that many children in Britain love to watch. It's usually performed at the seaside in a small, colorful booth that can be easily moved around. All the characters in the show are glove puppets. The story is told by a person called “The Professor.” You can't see The Professor, but they wear the puppets on their hands and make them move and talk.
Meet the Characters
Punch is the main character. He wears a bright, colorful costume like a jester. He has a hunchback and a long, hooked nose that almost touches his curved chin. Punch often carries a big stick and uses it to playfully hit the other characters. When he does, he usually shouts, "That's the way to do it!" He also speaks in a funny, squeaky voice using a special tool called a swazzle.
Other characters in the show often include Punch's wife, Judy, a baby, a crocodile, a policeman, and even a string of sausages! The humor in Punch and Judy shows is often very simple and physical, known as “slapstick” comedy. This means characters often bump into things or each other in a funny way.
The History of Punch and Judy Shows
The Punch and Judy show has a long history, going all the way back to the 16th century in Italy. It started from a type of comedy called commedia dell'arte. This kind of comedy always featured the same well-known characters, called “stock characters.”
Punch's character comes from an Italian character named Pulcinella, who was called Punchinello in English. Punch's wife was originally named "Joan."
Many "Professors" (the people who perform the shows) say that May 9, 1662, is Punch's birthday in the UK. This is because it was the first time someone recorded seeing a puppet show with an early version of the Punch character in Britain. A famous writer named Samuel Pepys saw this puppet show near St. Paul's Church in London's Covent Garden.
Over time, the show in Britain became what we know today as "Punch and Judy." In other countries, similar puppet shows developed differently. For example:
- In Germany, Punch is called "Kasper" and Judy is "Grete."
- In The Netherlands, Punch is Jan Klaassen and Judy is Katrijn.
- In Italy, he's still Pulcinella, with Teresina as the female character.
- In Russia, he's Petruschka.
- In France, he's Polichinelle.
In 1827, the first script for a Punch and Judy show was published. It was called The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy. More recently, in 2006, the British government even named the Punch and Judy show one of 12 important symbols of English culture!
Images for kids
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Punch and Judy at a fete
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A plaque in Covent Garden that remembers the first recorded Punch and Judy show there.
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A Punch and Judy show attracting a family audience in Thornton Hough, England.
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Punch and Judy, taken in Islington, north London.
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A Punch and Judy show from World War II that included a Hitler character. This was a way to make fun of him during that time. This show is at the History On Wheels Museum, UK.
See also
In Spanish: Punch y Judy para niños
