The Covent Garden MAYFAYRE & BOGNOR REGIS FESTIVAL
THE COVENT GARDEN MAYFAYRE began in 1975. It is the UK's longest running Puppet Festival. Although technically not begun as a Punch and Judy Festival, that is pretty much what it has become.
All forms of puppetry are welcome, but more than 90% of folk who perform there on the second Sunday in May are Punch Shows.
That is because on MAY 9th Mr.Punch celebrates his BIRTHDAY !
So, like me, he is a Taurus. And to be specific it is May 9th 1662 .
Samuel Pepys gave us that date thanks to a teeny tiny entry in his Diary. It wasn't much, a couple of lines. But it was the first time any mention of this 'Italian puppet Show' was actually written down in print.
Although Punch was probably in England a bit before that time, this was the first verifiable documentation.
And that is why, from all over the country, and further afield, Punch performers gather to celebrate the Birthday of our red nosed friend.
There is a stone plaque on the front of St.Pauls Church acknowledging Pepys sighting of Mr. Punch.
And it is here we gather with our puppets literally on our hands, to give Mr. Punch three cheers on his Birthday.
It's impossible to overstate what a Pilgrimage spot this is for Punch performers and enthusiasts.
That's why the Mayfayre always kicks off with a procession to the Plaque.
Then everything moves round to the back of the Church into its secluded walled garden where shows run all day, one right after another.
A path bisects the garden into two lawns, and on this magical Sunday, both greens are lined with Punch and Judy Shows.
Bryan Clarke with the utterly irrepressible MAGGIE PINHORN.
Without Maggie there would not be a Mayfayre.
In fact without Maggie's campaigning in the late 60's and 70's there wouldn't still be a Covent Garden at all.
The whole site would have been bulldozed and flats built.
So thank you Maggie !
The Mayfayre is a golden opportunity to chat with other Punch performers, some of whom have travelled huge distances for this annual pilgrimage.
Many non Punch puppeteers from film and television can also be found mingling in the crowds.
And of course its always nice to spend time with my fellow performers from The Punch and Judy CLUB.
Bryan Clarke is not only an elder statesman of a performer, but also a hugely prolific maker of Punch figures for sale ....pretty much everyone working today has owned one of Bryans Punches at one time or another.
His own birthday is only a couple of days before Mr. Punch .
When Bryan turned 80, everyone at the Mayfayre had secretly brought along a Bryan Punch to totally surround him with his own creations.
So if you want to see as many different Punch shows as possible in one day, head along to the Covent Garden Mayfayre for Mr. Punches Birthday extravaganza.
Sadly, I will no longer be taking my show down and performing.
Mine is an unashamedly big show, in a large theatre .
It has to travel in my big van.
London has never made high top vans very welcome. Nearly all car parks have barriers height restricted for cars only.
And worse, since Covid, all parking bays have been removed from the entire block around St Pauls Church. Even performers with smaller shows that can come by car, are struggling with parking further away.
Every year since the Festival first began, Richard Robinson has designed a glorious poster. Here is this years masterpiece:
But for CLUB performers at least, there is some light on the horizon.
It looks as though we now have another annual Punch festival, where people can gather to see lots of shows in one place ...and it's by the seaside too.
BOGNOR REGIS
Now gearing up for our third year ..here is how the first one came about.
GETTING THE FIRST ONE TO HAPPEN WAS THE HARDEST PART :
The trick to a good Festival is having a reason for it to be there.
Covent Garden has always held the Trump card for Punch thanks to Samuel Pepys.
But in 2023 we found a Town that could lay claim to its own bit of UK Punch History :
BOGNOR REGIS
2023 marked the 60th year since the release of the Tony Hancock movie "The Punch and Judy Man".
Shot entirely on Location with Bognor Regis doubling as PILTDOWN - a seaside resort that had seen better days.
The Punch and Judy CLUB joined forces with The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society to mount a two day Punch Festival in honour of the Films Anniversary.
I even made a puppet of Tony Hancock in his role as Walter Pinner the Punch man. It was complete with miniature puppet and a 'Piltdown Glory' ice cream sundae.
The Festival was held on a Saturday and Sunday, and thanks to the good offices of The Picturedrome Cinema, we even had a Saturday night screening of the movie.
And it was not a digital projection from a DVD : but a properly projected screening from an original 1960s print.
The Picturedrome Cinema even displayed one of our giant Festival posters.
Poster was deigned by Punch CLUB member Daniel Hanton.
Dan did a wonderful job. It was really eye-catching.
The screening was an extra treat.
But of course the main attraction were the Punch and Judy Shows.
The ROYAL NORFOLK HOTEL was our very gracious host.
The hotel even had its second Blue Plaque unveiled on its gatepost by the Mayor at the Festival.
We had total use of their spacious lawn, in front of the Hotel, right on the Esplanade just opposite the Pier.
The venue was just perfect. For performers and audiences alike, it was so much more comfortable than actually being on the beach.
And yet still only thirty yards from where Tony Hancocks Puppet Booth had been 60 years earlier on the beach by the Pier.
I think we can safely say the whole weekend was a huge success.
It was certainly loads of Fun !
The weather was kind to us, which always helps.
GINGERNUTT the Clown who is a regular fixture at The Covent Garden Mayfayre, is now also a welcome sight at Bognor too.
These things always happen thanks to the huge hard work of just a handful of people.
Deserving of extra thanks from The Punch CLUB are : David Wilde and Tony and Chris Drewitt & James Arnott.
Their tenacity and persistence got us up and running.
And just like the Covent Garden Mayfayre, we now have a Plaque at Bognor where we can give Mr Punch 'Three Cheers!'
The Town were so happy with the positive publicity and extra visitors the Festival provided, that they asked us back !
We were very happy to oblige.
David Wilde presents ceremonial sausages to Noah Bradley and Eddie Cripps.
We decided there was room in the weekends running order to showcase two as yet unseen, young performers.
Congratulations to Noah and Eddie : both have bright futures ahead.
Just like the previous year, a good time was had by all.
Saturday gave us blue skies and sunshine.
Even Sunday although very windy, still managed to stay dry.
So on both days we were blessed with big and responsive audiences.
The real joy of such a festival is getting to spend quality time with good friends.
We managed to get a couple of delicious group meals in over the weekend.
As well and Punch and Judy Shows from all over the UK we also enjoyed James Arnott's Puppet Cabaret, ventriloquism from Max Fulham and The Drewitt 'Living Marionettes' : a family act first performed before WW2.
With a birds-eye view above the crowd, it's the incomparable Professor Crump proving that 'The Long Arm of the Law" sometimes needs long legs too !
Yours truly with my Tony Hancock puppet from 2023.
Nice to have non-Club performers visit the Festival too.
Professor Paul Jackson made it to Bognor both years.
My show with old Mr. Punch in his Pyjamas.
I thought I travelled a long way from the Midlands to Bognor ...
... But Tony Clarke, better known as Professor Robanti is the most devoted member of our Club.
Tony drives 330 miles to Bognor all the way from Scarborough.
That's the way to do it !
Saturday evening the Picturedome Cinema again screened a puppet classic for the Festival.
This Year it was Jim Hensons "Labyrinth"
This shot was taken early on : the Cinema ended up being about 90 % full .
Before the screening there was a talk and Q&A with some of the Puppeteers from the 1986 movie, including yours truly.
It was wonderful to see the film on a big screen again.
Fingers crossed our Bognor Puppet Festival is asked back for a third year in 2025.
This local review looks hopeful...
...and YES it is happening.
Put these dates in your Diary.
