The city just approached me about wanting to build a portable Punch and Judy type stage that can be easily set up and taken down and even put on a wheeled cart to pull through the parade at our town celebration.  I am wondering if any of you have built one and can give advice. THANKS!

Let me look thur my numerous files and see if I can locate the stage files. It may be after Thanksgiving before I can get to it.

LJ,
   I think a PVC stage would work great...I'd say a least 3/4" PVC should work just fine.  It can be secured to 2"x4" blocks of wood then add wheels to the blocks of wood. 
   This is also a great option.  http://www.puppetsinc.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=91001

Julie

How funny!  I'm actually in the process of designing our own Walkabout Stage like that.  I'm actually here to ask about the types of material people have used on these to see through.  I'm pretty sure that Sharkstooth Scrim would be the best to use, but it is highly expen$ive!!!  An example for a Punch and Judy style stage listed muslin as the fabric to use. The main thing I'm worried about is that the stage will be used during our church Christmas production under house lights, so I'm concerned that the muslin may not be thick enough.  Anyone have any ideas or is this something I'll just have to play with?  I've seen muslin, screen wire, etc. posted but was curious if anyone has actually made one of these...

Athletic Mesh has similar properties.  Because of the holes.  I've never used it in regular light, but it works great for Blacklight Hoods. It comes in smaller weaves or larger holes.

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Jersey-Mesh-Black-Fabric-Front-Page_stcVVproductId49133325VVcatId537258VVviewprod.htm
http://www.seattlefabrics.com/mesh.html#Athletic%20Mesh
http://www.seattlefabrics.com/samples.html#Mesh You can order a sample of the different types of mesh they carry.

Julie

Actually any sheer material well work. Even something like a rayon silk or such.  The secret to making it so you can see out and others can not see in is that you have the area you are in completely blacked out.  It has to be dark on the inside.

Hello,
I am a Punch & Judy performer.
The type we use is called a lazy tong booth which is built from wood and folds down very small into a bag which you carry. For the 'hands in front' method I suggest you use linen or a cross stich fabric and paint onto it. If you need measurements etc I can send you the plans to build it. It is not easy to build this type of booth, but the results are worth it and is used by many Punch & Judy performers.

Cheers,
Daniel

If you need measurements etc I can send you the plans to build it. It is not easy to build this type of booth, but the results are worth it and is used by many Punch & Judy performers.

That would be helpful! I am not doing the building myself (Thank goodness) but I would like to have good ideas to present to the committee.
Thanks everyone for all the ideas!

Sounds great guys! I'll probably go run around the fabric store today and take a look at a lot of fabrics.  The ALICE frame came in yesterday, so I'll probably be building the stage frame today.  We'll have to see how it comes out! 

@Dans: Do you think it better to paint the fabric or just dye it with Rit dye or something similar?  I saw several sheer looking muslin fabrics the other day when I was looking for scrim.  Of course, I don't think I saw linen... which I imagine is hard to dye.

Hey, I have thought about spandex as well, as it tend to get more transparent the more you stretch it.  I think we have some laying around from some old stage elements we on our stage a few years back.