January 2022 to February 2024

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The Laugheologists

Sunday 18th Feb. (17:00 Studio, Bristol Old Vic)
Taking Mark Twain’s advice “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story”, humourists Barnaby Eaton-Jones and Robert Hammond offer up an illustrated lecture delving into comedy’s history and introducing a hilarious cast of overlooked, and possibly spoof, comedians who never quite made it.

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Tim Vine: The Physical Years

Saturday 17th Feb. (16:00 The Lantern at Bristol Beacon)
Tim Vine shares video clips from his life and career where he falls over or does something physical in search of humour. As well as moments from Tim’s TV appearances this show includes previously unseen footage of Tim aged 18 being deliberately visual.

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Silent Comedy Gala

Friday 16th Feb. (19:30 Beacon Hall Bristol Beacon)
DOWNTON ABBEY, THE GOLD and PADDINGTON films star Hugh Bonneville introduces a triple bill of laugh-out-loud silent comedy classics, back in the auditorium where Slapstick began: THE GOLD RUSH (1925), COPS (1922), BIG BUSINESS (1929)

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Keaton Speaks! 12A

Thursday 15th Feb (11.30 Watershed)
Silent comedy superstar Buster Keaton continued working long after sound was added to pictures. Here Keaton researcher Polly Rose focuses on three films exemplifying the best of Keaton’s speaking roles

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Victor / Victoria

Saturday 22 April (19.30)
Julie Andrews plays a down-on-her-luck opera singer who is persuaded by a gay drag artist friend (Robert Preston) to pretend to be a man pretending to be a woman. With an introduction from the award-winning performer, filmmaker and playwright Malaika Kegode

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I Don’t Want to be a Man

Saturday 22 April (11:30)
In this raucous, flirtatious film, a boisterous teenage girl (Ossi Oswalda) becomes so tired of being bossed about she decides to pose as a man. With a live piano accompaniment from Meg Morley and an introduction from internationally respected film historian Pamela Hutchinson

Cheryl Knight Joyce Grenfell Live Event

Ode to Joyce

Sunday 19th February 2023 (11.30am)
Cheryl Knight stars in a must-see tribute to Joyce Grenfell (1910 – 1979) whose hilarious and acutely-observed monologues and songs made her a global comedy star last century and inspired many other entertainers including Miranda Hart and the late, great, Victoria Wood.

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A Violin Over The Head

Fri 17th Feb, 2023 (15:30)
Oliver Double introduces a dazzling array of historic footage featuring routines by comedians, singers, dancers and spesh acts who mixed melody and pratfalls. Include Stanelli and his Hornchestra, Little Tich, the Bill Hall Trio, Lily Morris, and Wilson, Keppel & Betty.

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This Is Spinal Tap

Weds 15 Feb 2023 (20:30)
With specially recorded introductions from Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) and Sir Michael Palin, who chose the film as his favourite film comedy, Rob Reiner’s 11 out of 10 deserving mockumentary is a scathing lampoon of every heavy metal band that’s ever taken itself too seriously

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Onscreen Wonder Women

Weds 15 Feb 2023 (18:00)
Comedian and Slapstick favourite Lucy Porter and Jane Duffus, author of the What The Frock Book of Funny Women, present and discuss their picks from a new collection of rarely-seen silent comedy films in collaboration with Kino Lober.

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Mary Poppins

Weds 15 Feb 2023 (10:30)
It’s not surprising Walt Disney considered this film the crowning achievement of his long career – it won his studio a record 13 Oscar nominations and five wins, including for best songs.

Before January 2022, all of our events were listed collectively on a single page that was categorised by year

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