Guests

Rob Brydon

Much beloved as ‘Uncle Bryn’ in Gavin and Stacey, Rob Brydon is a comedy regular on television and radio panel games such as I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue and QI. With a successful UK stand-up comedy tour behind him, we have most recently seen Brydon in the quirky improvised and acclaimed Michael Winterbottom series ‘The Trip’ with Steve Coogan.

We are delighted to welcome Rob Brydon to Slapstick 2011. Rob will be in conversation with comedy royalty, Barry Cryer in ‘Barry Cryer’s Top Comedy Moment’s’ at Bristol Old Vic on Saturday.





Shappi Khorsandi

We are delighted to welcome Iranian stand-up comic Shappi Khorsandi to Slapstick Festival 2011. Shappi hosts her own chat show Shappi Talk on BBC Radio 4 and is also known on television for appearing on Live At The Apollo, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Have I Got News For You. Shappi's book ‘A Beginners Guide to Acting English’ is out now published by Ebury Press.

Shappi recently appeared on Radio 4’s ‘The Museum of Curiosity’ and chose Charlie Chaplin as her object to be placed in the museum. Following on from this, Shappi will be introducing her all time favourite film Chaplin's ‘The Great Dictator’ on Sunday 30th January at Bristol Old Vic.

Ian Lavender

We are delighted to welcome Ian Lavender to Bristol's Slapstick Festival to share his long held passion for ‘the great stone face' Buster Keaton. Best known for playing Private Pike in Dad's Army Ian, has appeared in countless stage and television productions including a three year run as Derek Harkinson in EASTENDERS. Ian now returns to his theatrical roots having trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, to discuss Keaton (his specialist subject on Celebrity Mastermind) with Graeme Garden on Saturday afternoon (29th Jan) and also introduces a classic Buster Keaton short on Friday (28th Jan) at Slapstick's Gala event at Colston Hall.

Bill Oddie

William Edgar "Bill" Oddie is well known as one third of the eminent comedy team THE GOODIES but in recent years he has become a familar figure to us on television presenting much loved nature programmes such as Spring Watch and Bill Oddie Goes Wild. At Slapstick Festival Bill will be introducing a classic Laurel and Hardy silent on Friday 28th January at Colston Hall.

Sir Christopher Frayling

Professor of cultural history from the Royal College of Art, London, Sir Christopher Frayling was knighted in 2001 for “services to art and design education”. A successful writer, critic and presenter, Sir Frayling held the esteemed position of Chairman of Arts Council England from 2005 until January 2010.

Recently presenting Slapstick favourites ‘The Goodies’ with the Aardman/Slapstick award for outstanding contribution in visual comedy, we welcome Sir Christopher Frayling as one of our newest special guest hosts for Slapstick 2011. In a special event presenting popular silent animation ‘Shaun the Sheep’, Sir Christopher Frayling discusses the development of the the hugely successful character with Aardman’s Creative Director Richard Goleszowski on Sunday 30th January at Watershed.




Richard Goleszowski

Richard Goleszowski (aka Golly) joined Aardman Animation in the 1980s before successfully pursuing a freelance career in animation, and returning to Aardman in recent years.

Golly was director of ‘Robbie the Reindeer’ (1999) which won international awards including a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA).Golly wrote and directed episodes of Rex the Runt for BBC2, winning the Carlton Award for International Animation at The Indies in 2000.

Golly’s CV includes directing two series’ of successful Aardman series ‘Creature Comforts’ and most recently, the development of ‘Shaun the Sheep’ character which first appeared in ‘A Close Shave’ (1995). Shaun's regular antics are now licensed in over 150 territories and are entertaining millions of viewers across the globe using the universal language of silent comedy. As well as developing the character, Golly has written and directed several ‘Shaun the Sheep’ episodes.

Golly will be in conversation with Sir Christopher Frayling on Sunday 30th January at Watershed, discussing the huge success and development of ‘Shaun the Sheep’.



Tim Brooke-Taylor

Tim Brooke-Taylor is perhaps best known as a member of "The Goodies" and as one of the core members of radio panel shows I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. A member of the footlights and ex-Lord Rector of the University of St. Andrews, Brooke-Taylor has worked with luminaries such as John Cleese and Gene Wilder. This year Tim Brooke-Taylor returns to celebrate the work of Marty Feldman on both the small and big screen. These two special events will be held on Sunday 30th January, 11am Colston Hall 2, and 8pm at Watershed, see programme for more details.

Graeme Garden

Aside from being a doctor of medicine, Graeme Garden is better known as a purveyor of quality silliness. His voice has graced radio shows such as I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again & I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, but it was his partnership with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie as television’s The Goodies that best represents Garden’s writing and acting genius.

This is Graeme’s fifth appearance at Slapstick and this year Graeme will be introducing his favourite Harry Langdon shorts, and joining newcomer to Slapstick Ian Lavender at Bristol Old Vic to champion Buster Keaton. Both events are on Saturday.

Neil Innes

We are delighted to welcome back Slapstick veteran Neil Innes who joins us again for Slapstick 2011. Founding member of the Dada inspired Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Innes (the 7th Python!) wrote music for Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The GRIMMS and genius Beatles parody band The Rutles. This year Neil Innes guides us through ‘world domination’ in a special solo musical event on the opening night of the festival, Thursday 27th January at Colston Hall 2. On Friday 28th, Innes joins the all star comedy cast of the Silent Comedy Gala, presenting his favourite Chaplin silent comedy!

Paul McGann

Back for Slapstick 2011, festival favourite and Patron actor Paul McGann is renowned from his days in the Monacled Mutineer through Doctor Who and Hornblower. We have seen McGann more recently on hit television series and drama ‘Collision’ and also ‘Luther’. On the big screen, Paul will probably always be remembered for his unforgettable black comedic performance as ‘I’ in Withnail and I.  An avid silent film fan, Paul is also a regular contributor to Bristol Silents events. This year Paul joins the starry ensemble on stage at the Silent Comedy Gala to regail us with his vocal talents on Friday the 28th of January at Colston Hall.

David Wyatt

An author, researcher and programmer, David is a champion of silent comedy having programmed comedy seasons for the National Film Theatre and various festivals around the world. David joins us this year to present special event ‘Rediscoveries and Revelations’, which includes the UK premiere of Stan Laurel's restored Monty Python-like classic ‘When Knights Were Cold’ (1923). This event will be held on Sunday 30th January at Colston Hall 2.

David Robinson

David Robinson is Pordenone Silent Film Festival’s Creative Director, a film critic, author and film historian, with a special interest and intimae knowledge of Chaplin. David has been one of Bristol Silents’ greatest supporters since 2000 and will be introducing events throughout the weekend.  Continuing the strand of presenting the very best international silent comedies, David presents ‘Slapstick International’ along with Chris Serle on Friday 28th January at Watershed. For more information on the Festival please visit the website at Pordenone Silent Film Festival website >>

Guenter Buchwald

Conductor, violinist, pianist, composer and an indispensable regular guest at international film festivals, Guenter, as previous festivals will confirm, is able to accompany films simultaneously with both piano and the Violin!  Guenter returns again as Slapstick's Musical Director and will lead THE EUROPEAN SILENT SCREEN VIRTUOSI on Friday night at Colston Hall accompanying the silent comedy selections of the Gala evening. Guenter will also accompany events on piano and violin throughout the festival.

For further information Guenter’s musical talents Go to Gunter's website >>

Kevin Brownlow

Celebrated Oscar winning silent film historian, author and filmmaker, Kevin Brownlow has consistently pushed the envelope of the silent film medium by both documenting and restoring obscure works and interviews with actors from this bygone era.  Starting with his alternative history film It Happened Here (1964) Brownlow went on to publish several books about the making of his films and produce television shows on films from the silent era.  A more knowledgeable historian in this era would be hard to find!

Kevin returns for his second year at Slapstick to Host Unknown Chaplin on Thursday 27th Jan introduce ‘IT’ girl Clara Bow in Mantrap, on Friday 28th at Arnolfini.

Richard Williams

Three time Academy Award winning Richard Williams is best known for his role as Animation Director on Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and his Direction on A Christmas Carol (1971).  Now a resident at the eminent Aardman Animations, Canadian born Richard recently published The Animator’s Survival Kit (2000) and continues to create new and wonderful characters.

Richard will join THE EUROPEAN SILENT SCREEN VIRTUOSI on Friday night performing on cornet at Colston Hall’s gala night, and will be showcasing his triple Oscar winning artistic talents with the UK premiere screening of Circus Drawings (2010), which will complement the screening of Chaplin’s The Circus on Sunday 30thJanuary at Arnolfini.

Barry Cryer

Hailed as one of the finest comic writers, Barry has worked with everyone from John Cleese and Morecome and Wise to Richard Pryor and Bruce Forsythe.  After receiving an OBE in 2001, Barry has continued to tour the UK most recently in 2008 with his show Barry Cryer: Still Alive.

Re-joining fellow I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue stars Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor at Slapstick 2011, Barry returns to share his ‘Top Comedy Moments’ in clips and conversation with Rob Brydon on Saturday 29th January at Bristol Old Vic. Barry is also one of this years special guests who will be introducing his favourite Harold Lloyd silent comedy short at this years’ Silent Comedy Gala event, Friday 28th January, Colston Hall.

Chris Serle
A long time supporter of Slapstick and Bristol Silents, TV Presenter, actor and reporter for the BBC, Chris Serle has worked on That’s Life, Dave Allen at Large, In at the Deep End and Windmill.  Currently serving as the Honorary President of the charity, Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service, Chris has recently been filming a flagship show for ITV Digital. This year, Chris Serle will be ‘Master of Ceremonies’at Friday’s gala, introducing films during our ‘International Slapstick’ event on Friday 28th January at Watershed, and in conversation with Tim Brooke-Taylor on Sunday 30th for ‘Marty’, Colston Hall 2.

Alex Clayton
Alex Clayton is a Lecturer in Screen Studies at the University of Bristol where he teaches courses on film style and on the history and theory of comedy. He is the author of The Body in Hollywood Slapstick, a study of comic performance and the philosophy of physical humour from the silent era onward. We are delighted that Alex is joining us this January to present Harold Lloyd to us and a study of 'Slapstick and the City' on Sunday.