Punch and Judy shows: love 'em or hate 'em?

I hate it always have always will, scary puppets !

I found them frightening when I was a child, and I think they are unpleasant if I see them now. I wonder if modern children watch them and what they think.

Our grandchildren saw one at a fete last year and were all totally entranced. They'd never really seen puppets before and the violence to them was not 'real' …. they know crocodiles are bigger than that, policemen don't bash people for stealing sausages.

Its just like some cartoons on the TV , they know that if you crash a car you wont get out with butterflies flying round your head.

Its just not real.

Children are happy to suspend reality for entertainment.

When a child I loved them, never connected them to real life

Terry Pratchett Discworld stories
Theatre of Cruelty

I have a feeling some adults think of them as real and remember battered wives etc. But the children I saw did seem to be enjoying it booing and cheering and shouting it's behind you just like in pantomimes. I don't really know what I think.

I honestly don't think anyone has ever become a wife beater because they watched Punch and Judy on the beach.

If anything, it is an opportunity for a great discussion about the difference of real life/entertainment.

If I remember correctly Sooty was never very kind to Sweep, and Andy Pandy got shut up in a basket.

Neutral. Don't particular like it myself but if the children want to see it so be it.

I never liked them as a child. I couldn't see what the fuss was about and thought I must be missing something. I still dislike them.

I never liked them when I was a child either Blinko
Nor clowns.

But I wouldn't stop the children watching one - it could be a good opportunity for questions and answers anyway.

Two of our DGC watched with us at Llandudno when they were 6 and 4. Didn't think they would be interested with all the gizmos and gadgets they have at home.They were enthralled!

I just find them boring.

Hate Punch and Judy , they always scared the heck out of me as a child.

I find them boring too and did as a child.

I think they're horrible - and boring.

I'm sure children would be entranced by any sort of puppet show. There is no need for the violence.

Never seen one! Deprived childhood?

Domestic violence

I think they are creepy. Gave me nightmares as a child.

I hated them as a child; still hate them now. But I was an odd child who disliked pantomime and regarded all that shouting and booing as plain silly.
There was a Punch and Judy performing at a street event in Lincoln last summer and he had about 30-odd children sitting on the setts watching, apparently engrossed and happy.

The one I saw with the DGD not long ago seemed to be funny rather than violent.

Eilyann we had a caravan near Llandudno for many years and my GD used to go with us from being 3 years old.
The first thing she wanted to do was go to see " the little people" she loved them and so did we.
All the school parties were taken to see it and I never saw a child who was upset, they were shouting and booing as loud as they could.
No harm done that I could see.

I don't mind them, and I took my grandchildren to see a Punch & Judy show at a carnival recently. The 3-year-old sat looking bemused, but the 7-year-old joined in with the shouts of "He's behind you" etc.

I loathe clowns, by the way. I've never found them funny in the slightest.

..love Llandudno...don't like punch&Judy(or clowns