Actor Paul McGann, broadcasters Samira Ahmed and comedians Shappi Khorsandi and Lucy Porter are among the latest celebrities to join the guest list for Bristol’s annual celebration of silent screen and classic comedy - SLAPSTICK – as the festival adds another 16 events to its January 23 to 26 programme.
Tickets are already selling briskly for the nine live stage shows being staged during Slapstick 2020 at the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton and Bristol Old Vic featuring Rob Brydon, Barry Cryer, Harry Hill, The Goodies and Stephen Merchant.
Now Slapstick is completing its line-up for its 16th edition by unveiling details of the screenings, talks and film + music events it will be presenting at Watershed and in Bristol Cathedral. They include
Stand-up Shappi Khorsandi hosting a celebration of Slapstick Divas – a treasury of rarely seen silent comedies starring some of the era’s best-loved female stars, among them Mabel Normand, Dorothy Devore, Louise Fazenda and Gale Henry.
A Bristol Cathedral screening of Buster Keaton’s lovingly restored OUR HOSPITALITY (1923) in 4K glory, accompanied live by the European Silent Screen Virtuosi, plus shorts from Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin, all introduced by actor and silent film fan Paul McGann.
A bumper crop of newly restored, recently rediscovered & unfairly forgotten silent films including Buster Keaton’s own favourite shorts; solo turns by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy; some early Chaplin and their many European counterparts PLUS a rare UK screening of a film by past Aardman Slapstick award winner: Pierre Etaix.
Bill Oddie sharing his love of cartoons and his special passion for the slapstick antics of Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and Tom and Jerry.
A look back at the ground-breaking TV series AT LAST THE 1948 SHOW (pictured) with original cast member Tim Brooke-Taylor using favourite clips and newly found footage.
Festival director Chris Daniels says: “There’s a lot of frustration and sadness in the world at present and while comedy can’t cure it, it does lift the spirits to come together with others and enjoy a good laugh and that’s what the 25 events lined up for Slapstick 2020 in January are guaranteed to provide - some much-needed light relief and oodles of laughter for all ages and interests”.
Slapstick is also partnering Bristol’s biennial Cary Grant Comes Home festival on a screening at Watershed of the 1933 screwball comedy SHE DONE HIM WRONG on 18 January (1pm) – the date in 1904 when the Hollywood star and style icon was born in the city.
Bookings are now open for the full Slapstick 2020’s January 23 to 26 programme
For more details including ticket prices and booking arrangements, see the festival’s website – www.slapstick.org.uk - or look out for the festival’s free brochure.
Slapstick is a not-for-profit venture heavily reliant on fee-free appearances by guests, sponsorship in kind from many local businesses and the help of volunteers.
The festival’s principal sponsors are Aardman Animations (www.aardman.com) and the British Film Institute (www.bfi.org.uk).
