Lots going on...

London is abuzz with international puppet theatre- though unfortunately most of the shows have not attracted the audiences they deserve. I saw Australian company Suitcase Royale at the Soho Theatre on Tuesday 12 July (reviewing the show for Animations Online) followed by Loco7 from New York City in In Retrospect at Wilson's Music Hall on 15 July, Canadian hand shadow puppeteer Jeff Achtem at the Udderbelly on the Southbank (17 July) and Thai troupe Joe Louis Puppet Company at Thai Square Restaurant at Sevenoaks (again on 17 July).

There are other shows I've had to miss too, including some interesting-looking student work at a youth theatre festival in Kingston.

Nobody really keeps track of all the puppet theatre flowing through London. The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild has a pretty good listing section, but information is submitted voluntarily by people in the puppet community, and inevitably things are missed. I feel privileged to have the time and means as an academic to see so much, but wonder if more could not be made of the huge variety of stuff happening around London today, along the line perhaps of the Henson Foundation's Puppet Happenings (a weekly newsletter listing puppetry events in New York). Maybe something to suggest to the Puppet Centre Trust....

May Fayre 2011

Today was May Fayre, the annual gathering of Punch and Judy in Covent Garden. It is a joyous occasion which combines a family reunion of Punch performers from all over the country (sometimes with performing guests from overseas), debut performances, sale of wares (toy theatre stuff, food, crafts etc). The best Punchmen pull off superb performances laden with in-jokes. A very reflexive affair.

I watched on and off between 1.30 and 4.45 or so of the proceedings. A high point for me was definitely Glyn Edwards' show - pictured above. Glyn began with a ritual dance of 2 health and safety officers to grant health and safety to the audience - a clear parody of wayang and like traditions. The figures were re-dressed boxers with hankies. The music a polka or similiar.

The jokes came fast and furious. When the devil asked Punch is he knew who he was, Punch answered 'Brian Clarke.' The devil responded no, though this was the spot where Brian normally performed. (The senior puppeteer was unable to attend as he was reportedly ill. He did send 2 puppets though to be auctioned off for the benefit of the P&J Fellowship.) A ringing bell from the nearby church prompted the devil to ad-lib 'ask not for whom the bell rings'....

A delight.

The Rowers

This production of The Rowers, commissioned by the Puppet Working Group from model theatre maestro Robert Poulter, will be going to a paper theatre festival in France in May 2011.