Sun 22 Jan 2017
Accidentally Preserved: Surviving Slapstick on 16mm
Watershed | 9.30am | Tickets: £8.00/£6.00
Slapstick comedy shorts were excellent fodder for home movie companies of the 1920s and 1930s. Kodascope and Pathéscope rented or sold safety film prints for people to watch in their homes, not realising that decades later they would out-survive the 35mm versions originally in circulation. This programme contains hilarious rare slapstick shorts starring comedy stars whose work has been largely forgotten.
This event has been curated by Ben Model (silent film historian, accompanist and filmmaker) and will be hosted by Goodie Bill Oddie and Infinite Monkey Cage (Radio 4) star Robin Ince.
With live accompaniment from Guenter A. Buchwald.
STOP PRESS: Due to last minute unforeseen circumstances, Bill Oddie will no longer be appearing at this event. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Sun 22 Jan 2017
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Tommy Cooper: Just Like That! With Barry Cryer
Bristol Old Vic | 11.00am | Tickets: £12.50
National comedy treasure Barry Cryer discusses his working relationship and friendship with legendary magician and comic Tommy Cooper.
Illustrated with classic clips and hosted by writer and comedy historian Robert Ross, this is a chance to rediscover the joyous comedy and pratfalls of Cooper’s stage show – as well as his erratic genius – with someone who knew him well.
Sun 22 Jan 2017
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Jeffrey Holland in
‘…And this is my friend Mr Laurel’
Bristol Old Vic | 1:30PM | Tickets: £12.50
Fulfilling a long-held desire to pay tribute to his hero Stan Laurel, Jeffrey Holland tells this intriguing, funny and often poignant tale of friendship, love and dedication, all about one of Hollywood’s greatest film comedians.
In this production from the Finishing Touch Company, Jeffrey (Hi-de-Hi, You Rang M’Lord) Holland stars as Stan Laurel in his acclaimed biographical one-man show about friendship, memories and remarkable lives.
Set in the bedroom of a sick Oliver Hardy, the show takes place during Laurel’s visit to the dying man. Recounting their past success as the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy, this is a humorous and touching look at one of the great enduring cinematic partnerships of the last century.
Introduced by Ian Lavender.
Sun 22 Jan 2017
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Once In Every Lifetime: The Young Ones Revisited
Bristol Old Vic | 4.15pm | Tickets: £15
Join us as we celebrate the seminal and anarchic eighties comedy The Young Ones (1982-84).
Actor Nigel Planer (Neil the hippie), writer/comedian Alexei Sayle (The Belowski Family), and Lise Mayer (co-writer of the series) will be exploring the origins and social impact of one of the UK’s bravest and most innovative comedies.
With other surprises in store, this promises to be a special one-off celebration of arguably the finest, funniest, most gross-out slapstick comedy of the twentieth century.
Hosted onstage by satirist, writer and stand-up comedian Marcus Brigstocke.
Sun 22 Jan 2017
Colin Sell: In the One and Nines
Bristol Old Vic | 6:45PM | Tickets: £12.50
In this one-man show, Colin Sell (I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Radio 4) takes us on a personal tour of favourite scenes and actors from British comedy films in the days when going to the flicks provided cheap, home-grown entertainment for all ages. He guides us through a golden age of British cinema with Hattie Jacques, Peter Sellers, Irene Handl, Alastair Sim, Margaret Rutherford and more, sharing his love of the old British rib-ticklers.
Plus a surprise silent comedy short with Colin on piano.
Introduced by Barry Cryer.
Sun 22 Jan 2017
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Alexei Sayle’s Top Comedy Moments
Bristol Old Vic | 21:15PM | Tickets: £12.50
We are delighted to welcome Alexei Sayle to Slapstick Festival to choose his top comedy clips from television and film. Alexei will be exclusively revealing his comic influences and explaining how they have helped shaped his life-long passion for the medium with the aid of clips.
A unique opportunity to spend an evening with the accomplished writer, comedian and actor, who will be in conversation with Infinite Monkey Cage co-host and comedian Robin Ince