Children are Emperors
About
Children are Emperors - A Punch & Judy Oblique Composed by Neil Luck A writing through of the traditional British Punch & Judy play. A puppet theatre of circular, ritualistic violence enacted by Punch, extinguishing of all sorts of marginalised characters (wives, lovers, children, policemen, judges, immigrants, the hangman, and death himself). Children are Emperors attempts to reflect this obliquely back into a modern landscape of patriarchal demagogues in all its hyper-masculinity and empty verbosity. Neil Luck: voice & table puppets Adam de la Cour: voice & electric guitar Cameron Dodds: voice & rubberised hands Performed live at Cafe Oto, London, 29th January 2026 Videographers: Zara Joan Miller, Hannah McLoughlin Mobile phone shots by Sarp Metin & Jack Sheen Live audio engineered and record by Rory Salter Colour grading: Adam de la Cour Mixed and edited by Neil Luck Generously supported by The Hinrichsen Foundation, and the Vaughn Williams Foundation