Information about current and upcoming Exhibitions, Open Days and Demonstrations will be posted here.

What: Exhibition
Where: North Ayrshire Museum, Manse Street,
Saltcoats.
When: 13/06/09 - 17/10/09
Contact: tel 01294 464174 (North Ayrshire Museum)

Pierrots, Puppets and Pictures

A look at the travelling shows of cinema, variety and puppet theatre on the west coast. By the mid 1920s Harry Kemp was running the business started by his father, George Kemp and developing a number of seaside variety shows on the west coast. The Kemp name became synonymous with quality entertainment. As part of this exhibition we will have a number of 19th Century marionettes, mainly from the Tiller-Clowes troupe, as well as Punch and Judy, playbills and posters.

We will be presenting “An Illusion of Life” and providing workshops during July on the dates below:

Thursday 9th and Friday 10th
Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th
Thursday 30th and Friday 31st

For further information about the museum, visit North Ayrshire’s website.

What: Exhibition
Where: Springburn Display Space, Springburn Leisure Centre,
10 Kay Street, Glasgow
When: 29th June 2009 - June 2010
Contact: tel 0141 276 9368

Peddlers of Pleasure - Mr Punch and his International Cousins

In 1662 Samuel Pepys, the diarist, noted that during his stroll in Covent Garden he saw a hooked-nose, red-faced personage with a high pitched squeaky voice - his name Punchinello. This was the first time that he appeared in Great Britain and at that time was a marionette, or string puppet, without the now familiar cast of characters we are used to seeing with him.

This exhibition presents the “immortal villain” and his international cousins along with dozens of objects that have been produced bearing his image for hundreds of years.

Workshops and talks will be accompanying the exhibition throughout the summer.

7th July at 1pm- adult event - talk “The Immortal Mr Punch” by John Blundall. This event is bookable, with a maximum capacity of 14.

14th July at 1pm – Family drop in event – come and make an interactive punch and Judy Booth and other novelties – event led by Stephen Foster

21st July at 1pm – Family drop in event – come and make Punch and Judy puppets and other novelties – event led by Stephen Foster

28th July at 1pm – Family drop in event – come and make a pop up Punch and Judy Card and other novelties – event led by Stephen Foster

6th August at 1pm – adult bookable event – come and investigate some historic prints featuring Mr Punch and find out more about this fascinating subject. Event led by John Blundall – maximum capacity 14

For further information you can visit Glasgow museums website

What: Exhibition
Where: The Mitchell Library, Glasgow
When: Ongoing

A Penny Plain or Two pence Coloured - A colourful and seasonal exhibition from the collection of John M Blundall

'A Penny Plain and Two pence Coloured' This well known phrase by Robert Louis Stevenson introduces us to the world of the miniature theatre with its heroes, heroines, clowns and harlequins, rogues and vagabonds. From pantomimes, melodramas, fairy tales and great works of dramatic art this is the stuff of fantasy and reality. Featuring original drawings, hand coloured prints, tinsel pictures and other rare materials bring this ever popular subject to life.

 

Past events can be found by clicking here

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All images and content are copyright of John M Blundall and Stephen Foster or are part of The John M Blundall Collection unless stated otherwise