Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns show is touring the UK once more, April-May 2009 (with an extra date in July). As before, Paul Merton is introducing assorted classic clips from the great comedians of American silent film, with piano accompaniment from the peerless Neil Brand. The show features Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton (Steamboat Bill Jr. will be shown in its entirety) and many others.

These are the dates for the tour, with weblinks to the venues.

April
Friday 3 – Belfast – Belfast Film Festival – 02890 330443
Sunday 5 – Bath – Theatre Royal – 01225 448844
Tuesday 7 – York – Grand Opera House – 0844 847 2322
Wednesday 8 – Durham – Gala Theatre – 0191 3324041
Friday 10 – Birmingham – Alexandra Theatre – 0844 847 2294
Saturday 11 – Leicester – De Montfort Hall – 0116 233 3111
Sunday 12 – Buxton – Opera House – 0845 127 2190
Tuesday 14 – Reading – The Hexagon – 0118 960 6060
Wednesday 15 – Canterbury – Shirley Hall, King’s School – 01227 787787
Friday 17 – Perth – Perth Concert Hall – 01738 621 031
Saturday 18 – Aberdeen – Music Hall – 01224 641122
Sunday 19 – Inverness – Eden Court – 01463 234234
Tuesday 21 – Dundee – Caird Hall – 01382 434940
Wednesday 22 – Glasgow – Glasgow Film Theatre – 0141 332 6535
Friday 24 – Cheltenham – Cheltenham Town Hall – 0844 576 2210
Saturday 25 – Huddersfield – Lawrence Batley Theatre – 01484 430 528
Sunday 26 – Lincoln – Drill Hall – 01522 873894
Monday – Harrogate – Harrogate Theatre – 01423 502 116
Tuesday 28 – Preston – Charter Theatre – 01772 258858
Wednesday – Derby – Assembly Rooms – 01332 0255800

May
Friday 1 – Barnstaple – Queens Theatre – 01271 324242
Saturday 2 – Salisbury – City Hall – 01722 434 434
Sunday 3 – Exeter – Northcott Theatre – 01392 493 493
Monday 4 – Bournemouth – Opera House – 08701 989898
Tuesday 5 – Weston Super Mare – Playhouse – 01934 645 544
Wednesday 6 – Yeovil – Octagon Theatre – 01935 422884
Friday 8 – Worthing – Assembly Hall – 01903 206206
Sunday 10 – London – Hackney Empire – 020 8985 2424
Tuesday 12 – St Albans – The Alban Arena – 01727 844488
Friday 15 – Tunbridge Wells – Assembly Hall Theatre – 01892 530613
Saturday 16 – Basingstoke – The Anvil – 01256 844 244
Sunday 17 – High Wycombe – Wycombe Swan – 01494 512 000

July
Sunday 7 – Newbury – Newbury Comedy Festival – 01635 522733

Tour date information taken from www.mickperrin.com.

The tour coincides with the publication in paperback in May of Merton’s widely applauded book Silent Comedy.