52nd Annual

COVENT GARDEN MAY FAYRE & PUPPET FESTIVAL

© Maggie Pinhorn / Alternative Arts 1976

Celebrating Mr Punch’s 355th Anniversary

Sunday 9 May 2027

A short history of this annual event by Maggie Pinhorn of Alternative Arts
The Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival was first held in 1976 after the famous fruit and vegetable market moved out to its new home south of the River Thames. The Covent Garden Community Association fought hard to save the old market buildings from destruction. They won this battle, but the centre became boarded up and deserted for five years before it was re-opened as a shopping mall, so the locally based arts organisation, Alternative Arts, decided to help regenerate the area by starting a Street Theatre in 1975 under the Portico of St Paul’s Church. The then vicar, the Rev John Arrowsmith gave his permission and also agreed to commemorate one of the most famous street performers of all time – Mr Punch – with a special celebration once a year in May, when in 1662 Samuel Pepys wrote the first recorded sighting of Punch* in England ‘within the rayles of Covent Garden’ on the 9th of May. The plaque to mark this occasion is on the wall of the Portico of the Church.

Inspired by this plaque Alternative Arts researched as many Punch Professors as they could find from all over the UK and invited them to the first Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival held in the garden of St Paul’s Church. This was an opportunity for the local community and this world famous puppet to come together to celebrate an important piece of local history and celebrate the art of puppetry and Mr Punch. A service was specially written by the vicar and included Mr Punch in the Pulpit. The May Fayre was so immediately popular with everyone that it has happened on the second Sunday in May at St Paul’s ever since. The day always starts with a procession on foot around the neighbourhood led by a marching brass band. Punch and Judy ‘Professors’ & puppeteers from all over the country and other parts of Europe, America and Australia attend and perform throughout the day. They look forward to meeting each other and discussing the mechanics of their crocodiles.

Over the years the event has been enjoyed by thousands of children and adults. It remains a completely non-commercial occasion. Admission is free and all the work done to put the May Fayre together is entirely voluntary. Alternative Arts raises the funds and makes all necessary arrangements. The Covent Garden Community Association sets up its stall alongside other local voluntary groups. Many people who once lived in Covent Garden return on this day to meet up with each other and join in the celebrations.
The May Fayre has become an important platform and annual focal point for the popular art form that is Punch & Judy, serving to maintain the tradition in Covent Garden with its unique history as the original home of Mr Punch in England. Mr Punch is an anarchic character, he pokes fun at the establishment and certainly does not meet with everyone’s approval, which is probably why he is so popular with children. The fact that the Covent Garden May Fayre has lasted so long has a lot to do with the history and determination of the local community and all the Punch Professors & puppeteers involved. It is a true celebration of our cultural heritage. Long may it continue.

Alternative Arts, info@alternativearts.co.uk www.alternativearts.org.uk

*The character of Punch originates from the Italian Commedia dell’arte theatre tradition and Samuel Pepys recorded seeing ‘an Italian puppet play – a great resort for gallants within the rayles of Covent Garden’. Punch was originally a string puppet but was introduced as a glove puppet by Giovanni Piccini who left Italy in 1779. He came to live in the Coal Yard in Covent Garden and died in the workhouse in 1835 aged 90.