Welcome to the website of
Tony Lidington & Promenade Promotions (Prom-Prom) Limited
“The art of British popular entertainment”
This website is for booking Prom-Prom’s accessible, family-friendly acts for 2024/5… it is also a treasure-trove of vernacular entertainments, containing Dr Tony Lidington’s research outputs, publications and archives on British popular performance forms.
Tony Lidington
“… some sort of unreconstructed music hall anarchist”
– John Fox, Welfare State International & Dead Good Guides
“A national treasure…”
– the late Duke of Edinburgh
This website is for booking Prom-Prom’s accessible, family-friendly acts for 2024/5… it is also a treasure-trove of vernacular entertainments, containing Dr Tony Lidington’s research outputs, publications and archives on British popular performance forms.
Tony Lidington
“… some sort of unreconstructed music hall anarchist”
– John Fox, Welfare State International & Dead Good Guides
“A national treasure…”
– the late Duke of Edinburgh
“Come and see the wonders of all wonders that ever the world has wondered at!” – Gustavus Katterfelto
– Wise words –
“One of the ways to avoid being beaten by the system is to laugh at it” – Peter Cook
“We don’t have a plan, so nothing can go wrong” – Spike Milligan
“This too shall pass…” from Hebrew and Sufi folklore
Latest Socials and Posts
What a week we had last week! ![]()
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Uncle Tacko MC'd the centenary of the 'British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild' at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry - alongside puppetry and illusion luminaries such as Scott Penrose (magic advisor to Derren Brown), Zippy (of Rainbow fame) and perhaps most impressively of all, performed a sketch with Hacker T Dog!![]()
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He also gave a joint paper with Dr Alissa Mello at the English Department, Oxford for the 25th Anniversary Conference of the British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS) - this featured their work on The Judy Project about female gender roles in puppetry. The grand finale was a performance by Nephew Spike Bones of his queered Punch & Judy for 200 delegates in the grounds of the department!![]()
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Our summer season of seaside performances got underway with performances alongside some of the greatest of contemporary street acts in Manningtree, Essex, to celebrate 40 years of The Grand Theatre of Lemmings and in memory of Dashing Dave Danzig.![]()
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Now we focus on performing in Devon for the next few weeks - do come and say hello!
Phew….We have another busy week in store. We are bringing fun and games to so many lovely places! ![]()
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MONDAY we are back @thewarrenbridgeinn with Spike Bones Punch and Judy.![]()
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TUESDAY (in fact, every Tuesday of the summer holidays) Spike Bones will be at the Ibis Hotel on the Esplanade in Paignton at 1pm & 3pm with his Punch & Judy show.![]()
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THURSDAY we are on the green at Dawlish Warren with Uncle Tacko’s famous Flea Circus and Professor Gaytons Punch & Judy! ![]()
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FRIDAY is Free Quay Friday @exeter.quayside with fun and games, featuring 'The Chicken Man', Professor Reakes storyteller extraordinaire and Dr Panemonious Fish with his suitcase circus tomfoolery!![]()
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SATURDAY & SUNDAY Spike Bones with his Punch & Judy @dartmoorfolkfestival come and test your strength on our Dom Tink!![]()
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SATURDAY seaside games @exeter.library ![]()
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And the best part is….it’s all FREE!
This week we start our season of weekly entertainments at Dawlish Warren!![]()
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Monday 28th, The Bridge Inn![]()
You can catch Spike Bones's renowned Punch and Judy![]()
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Thursday 31st, on the green![]()
Punch and Judy, seaside games and Uncle Tacko and his world famous Flea Circus!![]()
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Uncle Tacko will also be Master of Ceremonies at the Coventry Puppet Festival on Tuesday 29th. And will be joined by none other Hacker the dog![]()
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Discover Dawlish & Dawlish Warren
This Wednesday, Uncle Tacko, otherwise known as Dr Tony Lidington will be speaking at the 25th anniversary conference of British Association of Victorian Studies hosted by The Oxford Faculties of English and History. ![]()
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Along with Dr Alissa Mello they'll present ‘Punch & Judy and the Long 19th Century’ in regard to gendered entertainments.![]()
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There will then be a special performance, of Spike Bones’ Punch and Judy show, a new perspective on an old tradition – commissioned by The Judy Project: thejudyproject.exeter.ac.uk/ . ![]()
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University of Exeter
Uncle Tacko and his world famous Fleas are looking forward to dazzling the fine people of Manningtree this Sunday with their unbelievable array of acrobatic skills!![]()
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Come on down for a a whole day of FREE street theatre!
We are looking forward to another brilliant day at the Pilton Green Man festival tomorrow! ![]()
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Uncle Tacko will be there with his world famous Flea Circus and our 20 foot high, try-your-strength “Dom-Tink!” machine. Can you whack his nobble and ring Uncle's bell to win a coveted 'King of Ding' badge?In Pilton Street where bunting flies, ![]()
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Beneath the broad midsummer sky,![]()
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The Green Man comes with leafy crown,![]()
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To wake the joy of this old town.![]()
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Since 1344 it’s grown —![]()
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A magic day to call our own.![]()
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Green Man Day starts with drums that roll,![]()
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As dancers move with heart and soul.![]()
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The colours swirl, the samba beat, ![]()
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Procession arrival fills the street.![]()
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The pageant tells of nature’s grace -![]()
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The Green Man’s wild and ancient face.![]()
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With food and crafts on every stall,![]()
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Live music echoing through all,![]()
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In the gardens joy is spun,![]()
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With circus tricks and family fun.![]()
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So come and join our village fair —![]()
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We hope to see all of you there!
