The Complete Guide to Slapstick 2019
Now celebrating its 15th year, Bristol’s annual Slapstick Festival of silent and classic comedy can be guaranteed to light up the coldest and cruellest month of the year with a cavalcade of merriment. Controversy? Not so much. But this year, in a break with tradition, Slapstick addresses one of the hottest issues in comedy: when, if ever, is it acceptable to make fun of religion? Are we in danger of losing the distinction between mocking faith and demonising its adherents? And given the chilling effect of the modern taboo of giving offence to anyone, anywhere, at any time, would films like Monty Python’s Life of Brian or even Four Lions be made today?
At least, that’s what we assume the topics will be because, perhaps tellingly, the organisers of this joint Slapstick/Festival of Ideas event decline to speculate. “For us it’s the start of the debate and we’re keen to learn from all views,” Festival of Ideas Director Andrew Kelly told us, adding that “as part of the discussion, we’ll explore the role of mockery and its validity and whether cinema and television comedy has a role to play in exploring and confronting difficult issues.”
He’ll be chairing what promises to be a lively discussion after a screening of the Charlie Chaplin film The Pilgrim, in which the Little Tramp plays an escaped convict posing as a clergyman, at the Watershed on January 16. Participants include comedians Robin Ince and Lucy Porter and The Rev. Emma Langley, Vicar of Westbury Park.
While it’s compulsory for all festivals to claim to be bigger and better than ever, Slapstick has the stats to prove it. The 2019 fest is bursting with 33 events spanning six days from January 16-20. Scan the programme closely, however, and you’ll notice that one fixture is missing: the big Colston Hall gala that usually kicks everything off with silent comedy classics, a full orchestra, surprise guests and a star comedian as host. With the Colston temporarily out of action, Festival Director Chris Daniels had to look elsewhere. Fortunately, the Hippodrome had a date available in February, so this year we’ll be getting a double dose of fun – albeit somewhat arse-about-tit in suitably comedic style. Hosted by Marcus Brigstocke on Feb 10, the gala’s centrepiece is a screening of Chaplin’s 1936 classic Modern Times, accompanied live by the 40-piece Bristol Ensemble playing Chaplin’s own score for the film. Those who crave a big January Slapstick event should beat a path to Bristol Cathedral on Jan 16, where classics from Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy will provoke plenty of laughter amid the grandeur.
The rest of the programme is divided into two, with the Bristol Old Vic playing host to the classic comedy strand from Jan 18-20, where guest curator Richard Herring has programmed a number of events. Highlights include Inbetweeners co-creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris joining forces with actor Joe Thomas to reflect on the series’ success, followed by a full screening of the first Inbetweeners movie; Dad’s Army vicar Frank Williams talking about his career and the somewhat tetchy character with whom he’s become associated, following a screening of the original Dad’s Army movie; the complete Goodies joining forces to celebrate the release of, er, The Complete Goodies; and local-ish duo Little and Large making their Slapstick debut in conversation with Matthew Sweet
Traditional Slapstick fare of (mostly) silent comedy can be found over at the Watershed, beginning on Jan 16 with a screening of Charlie Chaplin’s penultimate feature, the fascinating if somewhat embittered satirical take on ’50s America, A King in New York. Other highlights include a focus on Charlie’s lesser-known big brother, Sydney; Lucy Porter’s celebration of the recently restored work of silent comedian Alice Howell; Aardman co-founder Peter Lord dusting down some gems of early slapstick animation; the unveiling of the true identity of a mysterious silent comedy star; and a special programme introducing under-12s to the joys of Chaplin. No other film festival offers this much concentrated mirth. Nor will you find another fest offering to light up a bleak January evening with a delicious curio like Happiness – a rare and often hilarious example of Russian socialist slapstick that didn’t go down too well with the stern authorities, who banned it for 40 years because of its shameful anti-Bolshevik humour.
We’ve categorised all the Slapstick 2019 events below. Follow the links for further information and screening times.
