Europe’s biggest celebration of silent and classic screen comedy - the Bristol-based Slapstick Festival - is introducing a new music-related strand for its 19th annual edition (February 14 to 19) celebrating entertainers with a gift for combining comedy and music.
In all, Slapstick 2023 will present 32 events at venues across Bristol and host live appearances by Rob Brydon, Graeme Garden, Harry Hill, Robin Ince, Stephen Mangan, Stephen Merchant, Sir Michael Palin, Nigel Planer, Lucy Porter and all three members of The Scaffold, among many others.
As ever, live music will accompany the festival’s traditional package of rare, rediscovered &/or re-issued silent comedies, including films featuring Charley Bowers, Marlene Dietrich, Raymond Griffith, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Laurel & Hardy and Harold Lloyd.
But another dozen shows in the 2023 line-up unveiled will showcase other marriages of music and comedy - taking in historic footage of music hall acts, family friendly musicals, Pythonalia, Beatles hits and parodies and cult classic spoof rockumentaries. Strand highlights will include:
Stephen Merchant quizzing Michael Palin about the making of the Python film which that sparked international controversy - and hilarity - ahead of a big screen showing of LIFE OF BRIAN
One of the best-known voices from The Simpsons, Harry Shearer, reminiscing via video about his role as Derek Smalls before introducing THIS IS SPINAL TAP.
Mike McCartney introducing the newly-remastered hits-filled Beatles film he first saw at its premiere in 1964: A HARD DAY’S NIGHT.
Comic Strip Presents and The Young Ones star Nigel Planer introducing the film in which he, Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall and fellow guest Peter Richardson reprised their roles as would-be rock gods: MORE BAD NEWS.
Harry Hill joining all three members of the satirical performance trio, The Scaffold, for a look back at their run of 1960s hits and collaborations with other music stars.
A family friendly screening of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG with the chance for selfies next to a replica of its magical flying car.
In addition, there will be special salutes to guest curator Sir Michael Palin (80 in May), Joyce Grenfell and to the Eric Idle/ Neil Innes mockumentary which became the spark for many other, ALL YOU NEED IS CASH and a visit from the Prefab Four band’s drummer John “ Barry Wom” Halsey.
Slapstick’s director Chris Daniels said: “Music has been a key ingredient of every Slapstick since the festival first began way back in 2005 but for our 19th annual edition we’re giving it extra special attention, showcasing the many and varied ways in which more than a century’s worth of entertainers have mixed excellent music with joyous comedy.“
To underscore the variety of music-rich events on offer, the festival’s main branding will pay homage to the Beatle’s Sgt Pepper album cover, replacing the celebrities depicted by Peter Blake/ Jann Haworth with notables from past and future Slapsticks.
Tickets are now on sale. Full details of the Slapstick 2023 programme and booking options are available here.
Slapstick is a not-for-profit organisation. The festival’s principal funders are Aardman Animations (www.aardman.com) and BFI (www.bfi.org.uk) awarding funds from the National Lottery.
SLAPSTICK 2023 will be the 19th annual edition of Britain’s leading festival of silent and classic screen comedy. The first Slapstick took place in Bristol in 2005 and it has returned to the city every year since. As well as being admired internationally for the quality of its screenings, rare film finds, expert-led talks and the number and range of celebrity guests who participate, the festival is also highly respected for its use of live music to accompany its silent film screenings and for the new musical scores it commissions. www.slapstick.org.uk
