The 15th edition of Slapstick Festival to Bristol has now finished. This year the festival featured both a standalone gala day in February and the main festival in January.

Not only did this year’s festival feature a record 34 events in total, but it was also notable for our busiest single day ever when we had over 2500 people attend two shows at Bristol Hippodrome! These included our Silent Comedy Gala which showcased a 40 piece orchestra and a rare screening of Chaplin’s masterpiece MODERN TIMES as well as shorts by Laurel & Hardy and Buster Keaton. Marcus Brigstocke hosted the evening in inimitable style.

This followed a matinee show with CBeebies star Andy Day bringing his favourite Slapstick clips to younger a younger audience and their parents.

All in all, 2019 was a breakthrough year for Slapstick Festival!

The year’s main festival was divided between a strong archive programme of silent comedy at Watershed (16-20 Jan) and a classic comedy strand at Bristol Old Vic (18-20 Jan), with our guest curator Richard Herring programming a number of special events at the latter.

From classic Laurel & Hardy shorts accompanied by a live piano, to behind the scenes chats with Dad’s Army vicar,  Frank Williams and the creators of the Inbetweeners, it was eclectic and sublime, with something to appeal to everyone. We even took Slapstick to Bristol Cathedral for the first year ever! And with 33 events over six days, it was our biggest Slapstick!

For this edition, many of our ‘family’ of special guests are returned including Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, Kevin Brownlow, David Robinson and Lucy Porter. We were also excited to introduce brand new guests including Little & Large, Sally Phillips, Joe Thomas, Dad’s Army’s Frank Williams and veteran comedian Jimmy Cricket.

Do check out a selection of photos from this year’s festival by clicking the button below.

Finally, people may have known our Guest Liaison team leader: Martin Hammond. Sadly, Martin passed away suddenly just after the last festival. A familiar sight at Slapstick, Martin is an irreplaceable figure. He will be sorely missed and we dedicated the 2019 edition of the festival to him. We’ll miss you, Martin!

Step inside the iconic London Palladium to be enthralled and entertained by your all-time favourite big-screen comedy stars from yesteryear, accompanied by a live orchestra.

A trio of silent comedies from comedy giants Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy, will be presented by multi-award winning, critically acclaimed performer, writer and silent comedy aficionado, Barry Humphries.

Experience the thrill of Buster Keaton’s most famous – and most dangerous – stunt, the house fall, in the outstanding comedy masterpiece STEAMBOAT BILL JR (1927). Presented on a vast HD screen, the movie will be accompanied live by The Bristol Ensemble, who will perform the London premiere of a new score composed and conducted by maestro Carl Davis.

Plus you’ll have the chance to enjoy short comedies from Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin, all with outstanding live musical accompaniment.
Barry’s special guests include comedy legend and national treasure Barry Cryer with his partner in musical comedy crime Ronnie Golden, along with showbiz legend, the inimitable Bernie Clifton.

This promises to be a unique and hilarious night to remember.

“If you’ve a shred of a sense of humour – this‘ll be one of the high points of the year”
– Sir Michael Palin.

We’re always on the lookout for volunteers to help us out with Slapstick Festival.

There are lots of roles available so if you’d like to get involved there’s probably something for you!

Click the button below for more info.