Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival
Feature by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON SUNDAY, May 10, 2009, the 34th annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival will be held in the garden of St Paul’s Church – the actors’ church – near the spot where Samuel Pepys first saw Mr Punch in England in May 1662.
Punch and Judy professors and puppeteers from all over the country will perform throughout the day, celebrating the art of puppetry on what will be Mr Punch’s 347th birthday.
The programme consists of:
10am – Grand Procession around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden starting in the church garden. Led by the Superior Brass Band, it will include a toast to Mr Punch by the commemorative plaque on the church wall in the Piazza.
11am – Special Church Service with Mr Punch and the Rev Bill Haslett in the Pulpit led by the Rev Simon Grigg.
12noon to 5.30pm – Punch and Judy and Puppet Shows. As well as puppet workshops, stalls, folk music by The Lost Marbles String Band, Maypole dancing and clowns, The Search for the Most Promissing Young Prof will be launched.
The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild, The College of Punch and Judy Professors, The Puppet Centre Trust, The Union Internationale de la Marionette, and The Punch and Judy Fellowship 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, and refreshments provided by The Food Chain.
Punch and Judy Professors, puppeteers and entertainers attending include: Professor Geoff Felix, Bryan Clarke, Paul Wheeler, Len Belmont, Paul Tuck, Tangled Tales, Justin Tai, Robert Styles, Chris Gasper, Gingernutt the Clown, Dean Blunkett, Martyn Cooper, The Winged Cranes, Glyn Edwards, Richard Robinson, Ossie McLean, Peter & Miraiker Batley, Alix Booth, Randolph the Remarkable, Mark Andrews, Lord Pandrum, Tom Arnold, Pete Maggs, English Toy Theatre Co, Mark Poulton, Pete Milson & Sue Lee, Frank Welsh, Paul Hansard, Justin Richman, Clive Chandler, James Arnott, David Wilde, Carl Durbin, Mr Chris, Prof Philips, The Lost Marbles String Band, Donna Maria’s Maypole Spectacular and probably many more………
Supported by the City of Westminster, Westminster Arts and Alternative Arts.
Venue: St. Paul’s Church Garden, Bedford Street, WC2.
Admission: Free.
For more information visit the Alternative Arts Website