Researching Punch & Judy Shows
Exploring the variations of the Punch and Judy puppet show has been fascinating. Despite there being hundreds of puppeteers performing this show worldwide, each rendition is unique while somehow retaining the same essence. It’s incredible how a single concept can be interpreted in so many different ways, yet maintain its originality.
Punch and Judy has roots in Commedia dell’Arte, which prompted me to delve deeper into the history of this theatrical style. I discovered that every show was distinctive because there was no set script to follow. Performers would improvise around themes or topics, often adding comedic and risqué elements—content that would undoubtedly be deemed politically incorrect by today’s standards. They challenged authority and mocked nobility with flair and audacity.
Learning about Joan through my research was unexpectedly thrilling, especially since history wasn’t something I had taken an interest in before. Delving into something new that truly captivated me felt exhilarating.
In my story, I explore Punch and Judy through the eyes of Joan herself. She would be shocked by how society perceives her shows today. To Joan, her performances are about her family and loved ones—how could anyone be so against them? But wait—how could Joan even express outrage in the present day, given she would be over 450 years old?
That’s when my eldest son raised an intriguing question: how could this scenario even be possible? Could Joan be an elderly retired puppeteer who has lost touch with reality? Was she suffering from dementia, convinced she was Judy? Perhaps she was a schizophrenic obsessed with becoming Judy. But no, I couldn’t imagine my version of Joan that way. Joan had to be strong, resilient, and full of confidence—a survivor of life’s challenges, ready to tell her own story.
Then, as I wrestled with this dilemma, my youngest son introduced me to an intriguing idea: Nicholas Flamel and the elixir of immortality. Like many, I’d only encountered Flamel through J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. To my surprise, Flamel had actually been a real person—a French philanthropist who donated much of his wealth to charities and hospitals. He was also an alchemist reputed to have discovered the Philosopher’s Stone, capable of turning metals into gold, and the elixir of immortality. With that, my research journey took an unexpected turn, adding yet another fascinating layer to my project.
