Celebrate Mr Punch’s birthday in Covent Garden.
When: 8th May 2016, 11am – 5.30pm
Where: St Paul’s Church Garden, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED
£: Free
What is it?
Why not join Mr Punch for his 354th birthday on Sunday 8th May? The Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival, held in the garden of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, will be celebrating with a whole host of puppets.
St Paul’s is located near the spot where Samuel Pepys first saw Mr Punch in England in May 1662, and is also known as the Actors’ Church. Punch and Judy Professors and Puppeteers from all over the country will be at the festival to perform throughout the day. The event will be welcoming visitors to come along and enjoy the shows, and celebrate the art of puppetry for Mr Punch’s birthday.
The event begins at 11am with the Grand Procession around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, starting in the church garden. The procession will be led by the Superior Brass Band and will include a birthday toast to Mr Punch by the commemorative plaque on the church wall in the Piazza. This is followed at 12 noon by a special church service with Mr Punch in the pulpit.
That’s the way to do it!
From 12.30pm to 5.30pm there will be Punch and Judy, puppet shows, puppet workshops, stalls, refreshments, folk music by The Lost Marbles String Band, Maypole dancing, and clowns.
The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild, The Punch and Judy Fellowship, The College of Punch and Judy Professors, The Puppet Centre Trust and The Union Internationale de la Marionette will all be represented.
There will be stalls run by community groups from all over Westminster and Camden, together with the Covent Garden Community Association. Refreshments will be provided by the Food Chain, who are raising funds to help provide nutritional support for people living with HIV in London.
The Punch and Judy Professors and entertainers attending will include Prof Geoff Felix, Bryan Clarke, Pete Maggs, Barbara Ray, Lord Pandrum, Jacques Devienne (France), Clown Gingernutt, Randolph the Remarkable, and Clown Salvo.
More info: www.alternativearts.co.uk/events