Rod Burnett's Punch & Judy Show

[@Guessnought]

im 22 years old, and i enjoyed this

[@Dazzletoad]

I am almost 29 years old and I watched all of this. Punch and Judy was a childhood memory that had almost faded away. This reminded me of what I loved as a child. Nice to feel that again. Great job, and I still laughed alot ^^

[@mjr200258]

Tradition is what we remember from our childhood. Punch and Judy has always evolved; to be relevant to its audience. As Punch's voice is a parody of a human voice, so the show is a parody of the human condition. In Britain the show has had a tremendous resurgence after the often over-zealous criticism of the 1990's. That said, many expert performers have subtly adjusted the show to shift the emphasis away from those more controversial elements without loosing any of that glorious anarchy.

[@Goonergroover]

Watching this a bit hungover on a Saturday morning with my 5 year old son and I'm laughing out loud. Love it!

[@ewancampbell6883]

these shows gave me so much joy when i was a kid

[@hardiehardley]

It's nice to see these happening around england again

[@mjr200258]

Of course, the amazing thing is, is that Punch and Judy never did disappear. Certainly in recent history shows have continued to be performed at family events across the country. It's also true that these days you are much more likely to come across a show almost anywhere - except the sea-side, which is where past memories tend to place it. If you're very lucky there are still a few sea-side locations, but not many.

[@hardiehardley]

It had hit an all time low however

[@mjr200258]

hardiehardley You're quite right that there has been a re-discovery of Punch and Judy, primarily as a result of the efforts of The Punch and Judy Fellowship and the College of Punch and Judy Professors. Then again, after 350 years anything will have its peaks and troughs.

[@dovilekhan1119]

I love the Punch and Judy show

[@slenderman540]

that is awesome i love the start with the clown and the clock

[@TimC9712]

i love this so much made me laugh all the way through especially when he says "im the devil, lets have a photograph taken"

[@emmaritchie9593]

Mr punch : I liked because of his song I'm going up the river in the old Kano. Thank you for entertaining my brother you are his inspiration!!!👍👍👍😜😜👑👑👑

[@lillythekiller8819]

I lovepunch and judy shows

[@jakobjager1]

I am happy to say that this is my 5000th video in my favorites.

[@sentionaut6270]

'Just get on with it!' Haha my thoughts since the first minute.

[@bobbaeba]

He seems pleased as punch... OH SHIT! IS THAT WHERE THAT PHRASE COMES FROM!?

[@grungophone1615]

yes it is

[@josephinecarroll9371]

Don't

[@josephinecarroll9371]

+Debra Parnell swear

[@josephinecarroll9371]

+Debra Parnell on

[@josephinecarroll9371]

+Debra Parnell a kids show. Kids will look at comments!!!

[@josephinecarroll9371]

I love Punch and Judy . Like if you agree! Also Melvyn, I used this video as a inspiration to one of my Punch and Judy shows. Thanks!

[@hesky10]

took me a few minutes to realise it was in Lincoln, not used to seeing it bathed in sunshine

[@jbird1130]

13:49 Oh my

[@josephinecarroll9371]

I know...., but, that's the behaviour you should expect from punch!

[@spasticpug5209]

Devil comes up "Oh my god" HAHAHA

[@mjr200258]

There's an awful lot of mis-conceptions about Punch and Judy. Sometimes folk think that the show was somehow 'got at' by government or authority, that it was, or is, censored. The show can be traced back to the middle of the 17th century at least and in it's current form of glove puppets in a booth, over 200 years. In all that time there are bound to be changes to reflect the social mores of the day. Of course, any professional performer of any art form, will use their expertise to decide what to include in any particular performance - no one chooses to perform something that won't be well received. So, on that basis, it's true that performers continue to 'edit' their show to suit the occasion and the sensibilities of that audience - but that is far from it being censored. After all, the Punch and Judy show is all about anarchy and you can't censor that!

[@josephinecarroll9371]

I did a Punch and Judy show once infront of a audience of 8

[@mjr200258]

Not a harmonica but a single reed ( like a harmonica in fact ) called a swazzle.

[@SuperMG1980]

I love how you hear one wee kid going 'eww!' when he says Mr Punch is having a wee wee!

[@thesecretrectangle]

This is so disturbing. I love it.

[@Clownboy15]

We have a theme park in the US called Busch Gardens. There's one in Florida and one in Virginia. The one in Virginia used to be labeled "The Old Country" because of it's European theme. In the England section back in the 80s they used to have a strolling Punch and Judy theatre. The stage was a lightweight frame that was worn on a harness so they could walk around all over that section of the park and perform. It was always one of my favorites parts. Of course nowadays it's "un-PC" to do. Miss it

[@Orpheusftw]

What an engaging show. I probably liked it as much as those small children. I notice there's a lot of Punch and Judy "tropes", where different performers do very similar jokes. Is there a reason for this? Tradition?

[@TheDrjaydrjay]

"Punch & Judy" shows recently celebrated their 350 years of existence, older than most of the Americas, so tradition certainly plays a pivotal role. "Punch & Judy" shows, like pantos, are always interactive. Ask your Canadian cousins ...Funnily enough, Punch & Judy have always been as well-known in the UK as Dr Seuss in the USA (which is actually unknown in the UK)....In the UK, "Punch & Judy" is considered an English icon in the same way you would say "as American as apple pie"

[@danielgwillim8220]

Punch and Judy shows have a huge improvisational element. Because the performer reacts on the spot to the audience and often has to devise plots on a whim there isn't really much of a cohesive story, but certain successful plot elements have generally persisted through the centuries to the point that all shows generally work them in: especially Judy's baby, the slap stick and the devil. It's the loosely cohesive 'tropes' as you put it that actually define the show altogether

[@mjr200258]

Bill Franklin Funnily enough there's actually very little that is thought up on the spot. When you've done the show 100's of times the trick is to try and make it seem like you're doing it for the first time ever - as with most live performance. In the past there were certainly regional variations although I suspect that with the ease of travel and KZbin that's not quite the case. Most professional Punch and Judy men will have a number of 'standard' key scenes they always include and then maybe 3 or 4 special routines which they will consider to be 'their signature pieces'.

[@kieranhill3500]

+Melvyn Rawlinson hi I am a massive fan of punch and judy puppet shows and your channel

[@mjr200258]

Kieran Hill I hope you get to see some good shows in the coming months. If ever you're down in London, the Sunday after May Bank Holiday is the May Fair in Covent Garden. About 20 different shows and where you'll see some of the best performers all for free.

[@jewel63875]

"Why do you got rhubarb legs?" Omfg XD

[@elitepotatoes8447]

Who else wanted the devil to win?

[@josephinecarroll9371]

No one

[@RebeccaLinder]

As an American, I'm not sure how to react to this. Thank you Lesley Scott for the link. At least now I understand the reference!

[@simoncooper2663]

I actually like this....

[@nickp2271]

Did you know there was a Punch and Judy puppet show in 102 Dalmatians? It reminds me of it, only longer.

[@ariparipari4706]

i have watch it in class

[@Jaccoob233]

Any Riddley Walker fans here? :)

[@Morganized]

+Jaccoob233 I came 4 mr. clevver.

[@josephinecarroll9371]

+Morganized (say this in a Lincoln voice) don't put your fingers up your nose urts (hurts) ps I've never heard of Riddley Walker

[@rinolevesquejr2914]

i came to this when hearing of the origins of the term 'pleased as punch', which i do say often. i was blown away. i have not ever seen a puppet show done so well. I enjoyed it more than a 31 year old with no kids should have. call me ignorant, but i was left wondering very much how he could see the audience to give high fives or to see the crowd. or how he might change puppets with one hand. Fill me in, if you know how or correct me for asking if its supposed to be a secret. i know not to ask a magician about tricks but cant say if that extends to puppet shows too.

[@mjr200258]

Of course Rod is part of a growing band of performers of Punch and Judy from the ages of 8 to 80 year olds. Check out the Punch and Judy Fellowship for more news on the 350 year old 'tradition'. There are certainly some 'secrets' regarding the performance, but I can tell you that the performer is usually standing and is able to see through the thin painted scene cloth. ( some other booths are much taller and the performer is working over their head, in which case there would be other peep holes conveniently placed in the front cover. As for the quick changes, the puppets are quite loose fitting and the trick is plenty of practice so that you always know where the puppet or prop is so that you can easily swop - all this whilst creating multiple voices and keeping an eye on the audience.

[@rinolevesquejr2914]

Melvyn Rawlinson Even knowing that, my brain is still telling me this is magic. i wish i had seen it in person. shows like this would never be allowed to be public here in the US. We are free to do anything so long as it doesn't offend anyone ever. i saw you write that it has been changed over the years to be less controversial... how so? 'Special interest' groups here would be in an uproar with this toned down version... that being said, i still think its a wonderful show and am glad that at least somewhere, kids can still enjoy it

[@mjr200258]

Rino Levesque Jr Without giving you a history lesson, it's worth noting that so many stories and other forms which we have now come to consider as 'children's entertainment' were NEVER intended to be for children. As I mentioned before, many entertainers have chosen to update the story - as was always the case - and so as audiences sensibilities change, so has the show in response to that ( certainly those versions which are performed for a family audience ). So rather than thinking of it as a toned down or diluted version, it may be more accurate to think of its current state as simply another point in its ever changing evolution. It may sound very grand but it's really no different from the way literature, films, comedy, TV changes over the years. Mr Punch being something in the region of 350 years old ( at least ) has had the opportunity to go through more changes.

[@somatotrophin1535]

Oh, stop it, I like it! Nice one!

[@dedmon1973]

I watched this at school!!!!!!

[@barnabop4982]

So who else is here because they read "Gone Girl"?

[@TheDrjaydrjay]

What is a gone girls?

[@dsantiagom98]

meee

[@mgsriramiyer]

me too, but after seeing the movie/

[@grungophone1615]

omg yessss lol

[@BlackTasky85]

Yeah pretty much

[@bloodanddajugs]

Makes me wish Eddie Izzard was a Punchman

[@patrycjanaporowska225]

I watched it in school

[@DanGloverMTB]

I love punch a judy

[@deltaderbyshire3822]

I went there for my school trip and it was realy funny I bet it is for you aswell and I seen it on the x faker!

[@Yamezzzz]

It would be funny if the Devil won at the end and he was like "I told you I would win you little shits". I'm sorry... But that would have been priceless... and probably a law suit. :D

[@TheDrjaydrjay]

It's not freakin' America, for Godsake. People neither spend their lives dreaming of making money off lawsuits nor expecting to be sued for unimportant matters. It's a VERY different world outside the USA! You can even say "fuck" and "shit" on tellie in the UK - wow...it's like having ACTUAL freedom and liberty...

[@josephinecarroll9371]

Don't swear kids are looking at comments!

[@babybump12]

I watch your shows at school

[@dovilekhan1119]

Its Is So FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!EVEN MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sannanaem2504]

What are the social and moral issues to do with puppets for children?

[@josephinecarroll9371]

There isn't one

[@josephinecarroll9371]

Just make sure they like it I suppose

[@3334alfieslater]

How much do you charge for a punch and judy show? Were based in rotherham south yorks.and looking for one on a kids birthday party

[@mjr200258]

Hi Steve, Rod is down in Devon and although I'm just down the road in Nottingham, I don't do kids party's. Have a look a www.puppeteersuk.com - it's a directory of performers and you can search for one in your area. Good Luck!

[@kieranhill3500]

I laughed when tne the clown hit his head

[@josephinecarroll9371]

It is quite funny 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@Dorkysinger]

I watched this cuz of buzz feed

[@jacquesmireprunedunni5205]

Wheres the violence that Punch and Judy are famous for?

[@josephinecarroll9371]

I don't think we need violence in a kid's show mate

[@Channel-mt4eu]

I love the skeleton

[@josephinecarroll9371]

Same

[@prolithium]

They have scary faces

[@grungophone1615]

they like censored punch pushing the baby down didn't they?

[@josephinecarroll9371]

Yea

[@mjr200258]

+that crafty chick What do you mean by censored and who are 'they'?

[@grungophone1615]

Melvyn Rawlinson they as in the play writer and censored as in didn't show

[@mjr200258]

+that crafty chick But there is no one writer or overall script which everyone MUST use; each performer creates their own show based on years of tradition and then most importantly, the personality of the performer. Of course any professional performer will use their expertise to decide what to include in any one particular performance based on the needs of that audience - no one wants to perform something that is inappropriate. So, on that basis it's true that performers continue to 'edit' their show to suit the occasion and the sensibilities of that audience but that is far from being censored. The Punch and Judy show is all about Anarchy and you can't censor that!

[@grungophone1615]

Melvyn Rawlinson i answered ur question i don't care to read a paragraph in response to that, good day and yeah i c ur point it just wasn't really needed in this situation

[@emzedjiklool511]

buzzfeed

[@442Rickmaniac]

Woi is it thet "bum" means "buttocks" in England/Wales/Scotland/Australia but in the US "bum" means a layabout who can't/won't work and who lives by askin' fer spare change and who sleeps under a freeway overpass or in a dumpster or curled in a pile of old blankets or a discarded sleeping bag in the doorway of a place kept heated all night in San Francisco. Wackadoo whoopdedoo brrrrrrrrrllllllll

[@zhouwu]

In New Zealand it can mean either. It's actually quite hard for me to imagine what it's like to understand it mean the one thing and not the other.

[@CrazyJodice]

Why does Judy sound like a man and Punch like a woman??

[@raggedyanarchist]

I have to wonder about the women in your life. :P

[@TheDrjaydrjay]

Are you 3 years old? Do you not realise the man who was presenting is also playing all the roles?? What's important in a Punch&Judy show is the Punch voice, which always must be the most distinctive, always sounding like this man's here, that quasi-unintelligible high-pitched rambling squeal. Judy is only the woman, so her voice is unimportant - in fact, he's not even disguising his voice, but using more female language & syntax to simulate a woman's voice, which is fine...

[@josephinecarroll9371]

Hmmm ppl these days

[@coolemmatv]

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