The Punch and Judy Club was founded by some of the world’s top Punch and Judy Professors, historians, and puppet makers all keen to 'Stick Up for Mr Punch'. They aim to promote Old Red Nose and his merry band of wooden headed misfits in the best possible light by performing shows of the highest quality. As "Custodians of Mr Punch's Heritage" these performers know that Mr Punch’s future is quite literally in their hands.
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Tony Hancock's The Punch and Judy Man
The Bognor Regis Punch & Judy Festival 2023
1963 saw the release of the film The Punch and Judy Man, starring Tony Hancock. Much of the film was shot on location at Bognor Regis, doubling for Piltdown on Sea, and over 2000 local residents appeared as extras.
Sixty years on the prestigious Punch and Judy Club, along with Bognor Regis Heritage Partnership and the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society, are bringing Mr Punch back to the Royal Norfolk Hotel for the weekend of Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October, presenting some of the country’s very best Punch and Judy shows in the gardens of the hotel in a festival celebrating Mr Punch and Tony Hancock.
Puppet collector David Wilde will be on hand to perform with Tony Hancock’s puppets from the film, reuniting them with historic artefacts, costumes, scripts and photos from the archive of the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society.
There are a whole host of other surprises planned for the festival, watch this space for further details.
With Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival cancelled in 2020, and Mr Punch and his friends on lock down across the world, we wanted to find a way to celebrate Mr Punch's 358th birthday in style.
Alongside Alternative Arts and ThePunch and Judy Facebook page we are launching May Fayre Memories, celebrating this unique event, and the people and puppets that have found a home there.