 Some Attractive Novelty Items
Punch and Judy Colouring Books – ideal as gifts to Birthday children or to sell after the show – 10 for £8.50
The Wonderful Drama of Punch and Judy Book - £5.00
Full Member PJF Embroidered Gold Cloth Badge - £5.00
PJF Embroidered Full Colour Cloth Badge - £5.00
PJF Tie (Blue with PJF Logo) - £3.00
Postcards (featuring Punch and crocodiles, clowns and policeman) 6 for £2.00
PJF Balloons (white with PJF Logo) - ideal as gifts to Birthday children or to sell after the show – 10 for £4.50
DVD Travels with a Punch and Judy Show – The First Journey - £15.00 ....Click for Info
All prices exclude P+P. Please email Chris Gasper (Chris@cgasper.freeserve.co.uk) for further details of Postage costs.
Travelling With A Punch and Judy Show—First Journey
A new DVD for the PJF, an appreciation by Geoff. Felix
To coincide with the 25th Anniversary of the P.J.F., Des Turner has produced a one hour DVD that celebrates Punch and some of the shows. This has been an ongoing project for some years now, and Des has spent a great deal of time, money and care on what has been a labour of love.
The film takes us to Harrogate, Birmingham, Aberystwyth and the Covent Garden May Fayre and contains excerpts of some of Des's favourite shows. These include Brian Davey's baby being rocked in the cradle and Policeman routines, Clive Chandler's Policeman, Crocodile and Devil, Glyn Edwards' Policeman and Devil and Dan Bishop's Crocodile and Baby which changes expression. Des then travels to Kessingland, the home of Bryan and Dorothy Clarke, where Bryan talks about his life as a Punch man and shows us puppets by Wal Kent and Fred Tickner. We also see his baby routine and boxing match. The film ends with Des himself performing the Crocodile and Hanging routines.
I was particularly pleased to see so many excerpts from the shows because this gives a flavour of the different styles all within the tradition. To hear Bryan talking about the old showmen and seeing the photos gives a real feel of the history. It was also poignant to see the faces of those friends who have now left us.
I would like to have seen more of Dorothy, Bryan's wife, and Mavis who have both contributed so much to their respective husbands' careers. Perhaps Des is saving them for his next venture. I hope also that Des might consider doing a documentary on the Covent Garden May Fayre which will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary this year. My abiding memory of this film is the sound of the swazzle accompanied by laughter. They seem to go together. I hope that at £15.00 incl. p&p, Members of the PJF will realise that considering all that producing a DVD entails, and that all the contributors gave their services so generously for free, this is a real bargain. Anyone hoping to learn how to do the show will benefit a great deal by watching these performers at work.
G.Felix May 2005
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