These colourful Punch and Judy puppets are from an exhibition I saw in Scarborough. A bizarre tale of domestic abuse and Mr Punch's near comeuppance, Punch and Judy shows are a tradition of village fetes and seaside entertainments that stretch back to the 1600s.
The Funny History of Punch and Judy (from the John Styles Collection) sets out the familiar scenario which ends with Mr Punch convincing Mr Ketch the hangman to put his head through the noose.
The exhibition at Scarborough had the familiar Punch and Judy characters as well as some other glove puppets from children's fairy tales such as Three Billy Goats Gruff.
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