Puppets in Portland: “Judy Punches Back”

We’re so pleased to kick off Mayo Street Arts’ Puppets in Portland Festival here in the Park!

“Judy Punches Back,” Puppet Motion’s modern interpretation of the traditional “Punch and Judy” show, is a hilarious, timely, hand-crafted farce that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

After being pushed around for over 400 years, the famous hand puppet heroine Judy has had enough. Audience members young and old cheer her on as she goes on a quest for respect, justice, and a well-deserved nap.

“Punch and Judy” is a British puppet show with roots in the 16th-century Italian Commedia dell’arte character Pulcinella. The the fast-paced, comedic shows center around the chaotic Mr. Punch and his long-suffering wife, Judy, as Punch features outwits authority figures like the police, a crocodile, and the Devil using his signature “slapstick” club.

The puppet show was first recorded in England on May 9, 1662, by diarist Samuel Pepys, who watched an Italian showman perform in London’s Covent Garden. Over time, the show evolved into a staple of British seaside resorts, with Mr. Punch transitioning from a marionette (string puppet) to the glove puppet we know today.