Many of the old Punch Shows featured novelty scenas, speciality sequences not related to the Punch story, just there to add variety. One of these, still popular, was of course the Boxing Match. Another was the Chinese Jugglers or Plate Spinners. The puppets actually spun the plates on long thin sticks and tossed the spinning plates from one puppet to another. Sometimes the characters' heads were conical and one would catch the spinning plate on his head. The late Jack Codman, grandfather to Llandudno's current Punch Prof Jason Codman, was expert with the Chinese plate spinning routine, as is Professor JIngles (Bryan Clarke).
I mention all this because I spotted in Matalan a childs game set called "CIRCUS GAME" at £4. It consists of a set of 8 plastic spinning plates and sticks, enough for two teams of children. But the interesting point is that these spinning plates are smaller than those normally available - about saucer sized- and would, I imagine, be ideal for a puppet to use. Th e spinning plates are normally really only possible in a hands above head booth but it might be possible to use these smaller sized plates hand in front of face. If you have a Matalan near you it might be worth investing £4 and experimenting.