Puppetry
4 types of puppets
• glove / hand puppets• rod puppets• marionettes• shadow puppets
History of puppetry in England (Link)
Punch's head.Richard Codman Snr, early 19th century.Victoria & Albert Museum
1500-1700
Travelling puppeteers in Elizabethan England performed in wealthy households.
In 1561 the Duchess of Suffolk recorded paying 'two men who played upon the puppets‘.
Helena: “Fie, fie! You counterfeit, you puppet, you!”
(William ShakespeareA Midsummer Night’s Dream, III.2.296) Katherine Bertie (née Willoughby),
Duchess of Suffolk by Francesco Bartolozzi (publ. March 1792)National Portrait Gallery
Interregnum
Theatres were closed and public performances were forbidden, but puppet plays were still tolerated.
Puppetry (mainly with glove puppets) flourished between 1642-60.
Oliver Cromwellby Robert Walker (1649)National Portrait Gallery
Restoration
Charles II. returned to England in 1660 and brought theatrical influences from continental Europe with him, including puppeteers.
The Commedia dell’Arte character Pulchinella became Mr. Punch.
King Charles IIby Unknown artist (circa 1665)National Portrait Gallery
17th century
Samuel Peps recorded the first Punch and Judy play in Covent Garden in his Diary:
Thence to see an Italian
puppet play that is within the
rayles there, which is very
pretty, the best that ever I
saw, and great resort of
gallants.
(9th May 1662)Samuel Pepysby John Hayls (1666)National Portrait Gallery
Punch and Judy
Video Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
‘In my opinion the street Punch is one of
those extravagant reliefs from the realities
of life which would lose its hold upon the
people if it were made moral and instructive.
I regard it as quite harmless in its influence,
and as an outrageous joke which no one in
existence would think of regarding as an
incentive to any kind of action or as a model
for any kind of conduct.”
(Charles Dickens)
(Stock) Characters
Columbina Harlequin Pulcinella Pantalone
Commedia dell’Arte
Introduction to Commedia dell’Arte (Victoria & Albert Museum)
Video Introduction to Commedia dell’Arte(National Theatre)
Historical Background(National Theatre)
Currently in LondonHandspring & Bristol Old Vic Theatre CompanyA Midsummer Night’s Dream@ Barbican Photos
Currently in London
Peter RinderknechtPortofino Ballad@ The Pit, Barbican Photos
Handspring Puppet Company
• The Puppet Factory
• Handspring Puppet Company Website
• I Love You When You’re Breathing Clip
• Breathing Puppets Clip
• Thinking Puppets Clip
• War Horse – West End Trailer
• Clip in New York
