Slapstick 2018

The 14th edition of Bristol’s annual Slapstick Festival offers a rare chance to see some of the great comedies from cinema’s silent era selected from the archives.

This year’s central programme, Keaton 100, celebrates the centenary of legendary slapstick performer Buster Keaton’s first appearance in films, with a series of talks and screenings celebrating “the great stone face”. Here at Watershed look out for a screening of Keaton’s 1923 classic Three Ages as well as illustrated talks by author Peter Kramer, historian David Robinson and director Kevin Brownlow.

Elsewhere, Slapstick’s Rediscoveries and Revelations strand celebrates the diversity of film comedy in the 1910s and 20s and shows that a century has in no way diminished the laughter they bring. Revealing rare, sophisticated, diverse and often unknown visual comedy gleaned from archives across Europe, highlights include great performers of the past such as Constance Talmadge in Her Night of Romance, Laura La Plante in Skinner’s Dress Suit, Betty Balfour in The Vagabond Queen and Austria’s answer to Laurel & Hardy – Cocl & Seff. All this plus rediscovered comic gems from Marcel Perez (Italy and USA) Max Linder (France) and German genius Karl Valentin.

Other special guest hosts include Goodie and wildlife champion Bill Oddie who will be discussing his time as a teen musical icon as one third of the legendary Goodies. The fabulous comedian Lucy Porter also joins us to present a selection of the films starring phenomenal female comedians and as always a highlight of the shows will be the live accompaniment by musicians internationally recognised as the best in the business. Expect solo harp, violin, accordion, flute, percussion, piano, and, of course, a whole lot of laughs.

As well as events here at Watershed, the festival takes place at venues around the city centre including Colston Hall, Arnolfini and Bristol Old Vic. See the full programme at slapstick.org.uk.