When: 22nd – 25th January 2015
Where: Bristol
£: Tickets for events are priced from £10 to £15
What is it?
Slapstick 2015 will be the 11th annual edition of Britain’s leading festival of silent film and vintage television comedy. The Slapstick festival takes place in Bristol from 22nd to 25th January.
The festival’s popularity and reputation grows year on year. Last year, audiences topped 4,500 and included many people who had travelled from abroad just to attend. As well as being admired internationally for the quality of its screenings, talks and celebrity guest events, the festival is also highly respected for the new musical scores it commissions to accompany silent movies and for its use of live music.
Slapstick 2015 will be offering a choice of around 20 silent and vintage screen comedy events at different central Bristol venues. This year comedian, writer and In The Thick Of It actor Chris Addison will be joined by rock legend Rick Wakeman at the festival’s traditional opening gala at Colston Hall on Friday 23rd January. Other guests this year will include:
Griff Rhys Jones sharing memories of his Alas Smith & Jones partner, the late Mel Smith (and showing scenes from their unscreened sitcom).
Denise Coffey, Neil Innes and other celebrity friends recalling the many cult musical and screen creations of Vivian Stanshall; killed in a fire 20 years ago.
The legendary Barry Cryer – 80 in March 2015 – on his long association with the equally legendary Morecambe and Wise.
Victoria Wood revealing her fascination for one of the comedy queens of early Hollywood, Gloria Swanson.
The Goodies introducing more goodies from Laurel and Hardy.
Comedy innovators Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer looking over a body of work which spans 20 plus years, before receiving the festival’s latest Visual Comedy Award.
More info: www.slapstick.org.uk