Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
The REAL Mr Punch
Covent Garden's very own Mr Punch has recently completed 6,000 Punch & Judy performances on the streets of Covent Garden in the past 7 years.
Mr Punch (a.k.a. Konrad Fredericks) runs the only professional puppet theatre in central London and is the only professional 'street' Punch in existence. Konrad has performed on many of the world's streets and squares. His travels have taken him and his entourage to New Zealand, Australia and the Singapore Arts Festival. Many of the puppets and the frames are Konrad's own work and much admired, especially by many of Covent Garden's younger visitors, although the puppets Konrad uses in Covent Garden were made by the late Fred Tickner. They are over 30 years old and still have the original paintwork.
The Covent Garden Punch man also performs every summer in London's Royal Parks under contract to the aptly named Department of Media, Culture and Sport (formerly the Department of National Heritage). All Mr Punch's shows in Covent Garden are, however, entirely paid for through the collection taken by Konrad's assistant during the performances Mr Punch does not receive fees for his work!
Apart from the joy and fun that Mr Punch manages to bring to the hearts and minds of thousands every year, his colourful booth makes a very welcome change from the drab, commercial, overpriced tat available in central Covent Garden. Please come and watch him, weather permitting, in or around the Piazza and James Street.
To find out where the shows are likely to be performed, please telephone Mr Punch on 07931 62 92 66. During the winter season, Punch's usual times are 12:00-16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting.
As this is the only 'professional' Mr Punch, you can also email him punchlondon@hotmail.com (how does he manage a laptop in there...?)
Mr Punch & Friends can also be hired for special events - they are sure to liven-up any event for both young and old. Please contact Konrad on the above number.
- http://www.punchandjudy.com/
- http://www.zapcom.net/~bcomings/html/punchpage.html
- http://www.display.co.uk/punch/history.html
© Covent Garden Community Association, November 1999
Konrad and the troupe; Photograph by Eva Szycinska, London
Mr Punch as used by Percy Press (left) and John Pole (right), made by
Konrad Fredericks; Photograph by Angela Hughes, London
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