Punch and Judy is a traditional puppet show featuring Mr. Punch and his wife Judy. The performance consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters, most typically Mr. Punch and one other character who usually falls victim to Punch's slapstick. The Daily Telegraph called Punch and Judy "a staple of the British seaside scene". The various episodes of Punch comedy—often provoking shocked laughter—are dominated by the clowning of Mr. Punch.
A traditional Punch and Judy booth, at Swanage, Dorset, England
Punch and Judy at a fete
Plaque commemorating the first recorded performance of Punch and Judy on St Paul's in Covent Garden
A Punch and Judy show attracts a family audience In Thornton Hough, Merseyside, England
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. Puppetry is an ancient form of theatre which dates back to the 5th century BC in Ancient Greece.
Traditional hand puppets
A Kathputli show in Mandawa, Rajasthan, India
Ancient Greek terracotta puppet dolls, 5th/4th century BC, National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Medieval knight puppets do battle in the Hortus deliciarum. Each puppet is manipulated by both puppeteers.
