I built this wooden Punch puppet based on the mid 1800s illustrations of the Piccini Punch by George Cruikshank. And although the crocodile was not added to the cast until decades later, I also built a crocodile. If I have access to a workshop again one day, I’d love to finish the set.
Archives: Punch and Judy (2011)
When I was doing my MFA in physical theatre in Italy, I studied the Roy Hart voice technique under the legendary Kevin Crawford. I chose to do a project on the traditional Punch and Judy puppet show. Punch’s voice was done with the secret technique with a traditional “swazzle.” The others all spoke some form of gibberish/grammelot. I made the puppets and built the fit-up with materials and tools at hand. The puppets were worked in the old school “over the head” style.