Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival
Feature by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON SUNDAY, May 11, 2008, the 33rd 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 346th birthday.
The programme consists of:
10.30am – Grand Procession around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden starting at the church garden gate. It will be led by the Superior Brass Band with a toast to Mr Punch by the commemorative plaque on the church wall in the Piazza.
12noon to 5.30pm – Punch and Judy and other Puppet Shows, as well as puppet workshops, folk music and Maypole dancing, clowns and jugglers.
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 will be provided by The Food Chain.
Punch and Judy professors, puppeteers and entertainers taking part will include Professor Geoff Felix, Prof Jingles, Alix Booth, Paul Tuck, Len Bemont, The Puppet Man, Gingernut the Clown, Prof EEK, Richard Robinson, Pete Maggs, Prof Mark Poulton, The English Toy Theatre Co, Prof Pete Milson and Sue Lee, Frank Welsh, Paul Hansard, Justin Richman, Paul Wheeler, Angela Collins, Gravy Boat, Snip and Clip, Woodstock and Cynamon, Mr Chris, Clive Chandler, James Arnott, David Wilde, Justin Tai, Lord Pandrum, Derek Carpenter, Carl Durbin, Prof Philips, Chris Maddock, Mark Andrews, Richard Coombs, Anthony Walker, The Lost Marbles String Band, Donna Maria’s Maypole Spectacular and probably many more…
Venue: St. Paul’s Church Garden, Bedford Street, WC2.
Admission: Free.
For more information visit the Alternative Arts website.