You may have seen Daniel performing with his duo at the Felixstowe Carnival. We decided to reach out to him and ask him to write us an article about his journey. Over to you Daniel 😊
I perform at all kinds of events and occasions such as carnivals, fetes, schools and even the beach.
Punch & Judy has been around for 360 years in the UK and its first sighting was in Covent Garden in 1662 by Samuel Pepys who recorded it in his diaries. From the streets of towns and cities, it found its way to the seaside with the popularity of coastal holidays in the Victorian era. 360 years on the show is performed all over the world by many performers.
As a seaside town Punch and Judy would have been a regular sight on the seafront at Felixstowe in years gone by. On the beach, the performer would have relied on donations from the audience known as the bottle. There are only three permanent beach shows left in the UK.
Other than Punch & Judy I perform annually in pantomime as the dame. Also, I work as an illustrator and children's author which includes a storybook about Mr Punch called, “Beside the Seaside.”
I started professionally with the show seven years ago. Since the age of four after seeing my first show on Great Yarmouth beach I have always been fascinated with Mr Punch and the show. Seeing those performances are some of my earliest memories. Every event my parents took me to I was always on the hunt for a Punch & Judy show. For some children, the show can be the first taste of live entertainment and an introduction to theatre.
My advice to my younger self would be you should have started the show sooner!
For anyone wanting to perform the show, watch as many other performers as you can. Don't copy their shows but adapt your own and bring your interpretation to it.
The show has evolved over the last 360 years and will still be evolving many years from now. Keeping the tradition alive and bringing it to a new generation away from mobile devices in this digital age.