Including a Buster Keaton film screened in Bristol Cathedral

The Slapstick classic comedy festival has added actor Paul McGann, broadcaster Samira Ahmed and comedians Shappi Khorsandi and Lucy Porter to its line-up.

With 16 new events added today, the Bristol event has now finalised its programme for the 16th festival, which will run from January 23 to 26.

Added to previously announced appearances from the likes of Rob Brydon, Barry Cryer, Harry Hill, The Goodies and Stephen Merchant are:

• Shappi Khorsandi hosting a celebration of Slapstick Divas – a treasury of rarely seen silent comedies starring the likes of Mabel Normand, Dorothy Devore, Louise Fazenda and Gale Henry.
• A Bristol Cathedral screening of a restored version of Buster Keaton’s 1923 film Our Hospitality (pictured), 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 silent films including Keaton; solo turns by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy; some early Chaplin and their many European counterparts. 
• 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 groundbreaking TV series At Last The 1948 Show with original cast member Tim Brooke-Taylor using favourite clips and newly found footage.
• Lucy Porter and Samira Ahmed looking at how suffragettes were depicted in silent comedy.

Festival director Chris Daniels said: ‘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.’

For more details visit the festival’s website, www.slapstick.org.uk.

Published: 24 Oct 2019