http://www.slapstick.org.uk

Slapstick, Bristol’s silent film comedy festival, returns 22-25 January 2009. At just the time of year when we probably need it most, the Bristol festival (now in its fifth year) will be bringing together a programme of silent comedies with guest star comedians of today. The festival opens with a special gala event at Colston Hall of Buster Keaton’s Our Hospitality (1923), with live music from the Prima Visa Social Club, hosted by Paul Merton, who will introduce a supporting programme of comedy shorts including Laurel and Hardy in Liberty (1929).

Promised guests include Merton, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Neil Innes, and the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain playing to films from the BFI National Archive. British comedy great Eric Sykes will appear at the Bristol Old Vic on January 25th, in conversation with Phill Jupitus, to talk about his career as a writer and performer, to include a screening of his own classic ‘modern’ silent, The Plank (1967). Other venues will be the Watershed and the Arnolfini.

The remainder of the programme remains to be announced, but you are advised to book early, as this blurb from the festival says:

We are expecting unprecedented demand for these tickets and expect them to sell out quickly. A limited amount of priority tickets have been put aside for Bristol Silents Members and those people who purchase festival passes until 17th November and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

All Bristol Silents members and delegates will be able to purchase tickets at discounted rates.

We look forward to welcoming you once more to an extraordinary weekend of film, music and laughter in the heart of Bristol and would like to take this opportunity to thanks you for your ongoing support.

More programme news here as it appears.