Bristol’s Slapstick Festival returns this week for its 20th anniversary. Beginning on Wednesday, February 12, and running until Sunday, February 16, the festival will bring with it a celebration of silent and classic screen comedy with one of the major themes of this year’s event being ‘spoofs, satire and parody’.
Famous faces will be plentiful this year, with Ben Elton receiving his own custom-made Morph and the title of Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend, Harry Enfield making a rare appearance for a Q&A, Sir Paul McCartney’s brother Mike, as well as a celebration of the life of the late great Rik Mayall, by those who knew him best. Rik Wakeman, Martin Freeman, Adam Hills, Alasdair Beckett-King, and the stars of Goodness Gracious Me will be in attendance.
There will be screenings of silent movies as part of the Slapstick Festival gala on Valentine’s Day, and even some Wallace & Gromit to sink your teeth into – plus many more. Here’s the line-up in full
What is Bristol’s Slapstick Festival? And where is it being held?
Slapstick Festival is a celebration of silent and classic screen comedy – from films to TV, to those who starred in and wrote them. This year’s event features 35 classic, silent and visual comedy events across Bristol’s most iconic venues, including Bristol Beacon, Bristol Old Vic and the Watershed, among others.
What you can see and do at Bristol’s Slapstick Festival – the line-up in full
Silent Comedy Gala – Friday, February 14 at 7.30pm, Bristol Beacon
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Silent Comedy Gala, hosted by award-winning actor Martin Freeman. Event includes Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928), Laurel & Hardy’s Angora Love (1929) and live accompaniment by Rick Wakeman.
Cartoon Carnival with Peter Lord CBE & Andrew Smith – Wednesday, February 12 at 11am, Watershed
Aardman’s co-founder chats with Andrew Smith, director of Cartoon Carnival – a lovingly-researched documentary telling the story of the pioneering early days of animated film.
Norrtullsligan (The Nuthill League) with Peter Walsh – Wednesday, February 12 at 1.15pm, Watershed
“A comedy about four single girls with busy office jobs and love lives sharing a flat in a big city – a gentle and graceful comedy about women trying to navigate a male dominated world.”
W.C. Fields: Running Wild with Dr Harriet Fields and Andrew Kelly – Wednesday, February 12 at 3.30pm, Watershed
“W.C.Fields in this early silent comedy he shines as the henpecked Elmer. Host Andrew Kelly will be talking live via Zoom to Dr. Harriet Fields, granddaughter of W.C Fields.”
Harold Lloyd in The Freshman with Paul McGann – Wednesday, February 12 at 6pm, Bristol Megascreen (Aquarium)
“Join actor and Lloyd superfan Paul McGann for a screening of one of Harold Lloyd’s best-loved comedies on Bristol’s largest screen. In this satire of college life.”
100s of Beavers with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews in conversation – Wednesday, February 12 at 8.30pm, Bristol Megascreen (Aquarium)
“This surprise independent hit about a trapper (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) battling malevolent beavers is already heading towards cult classic status.” There will also be a relaxed screening on Thursday, February 13, at 9.45am at Waterside 3.
Silent Movie with Chris Daniels & Robin Ince – Thursday, February 13 at 9.30am, Watershed
“Laugh-out-loud sight gags, sharp satirical digs at the business side of Hollywood and some of cinema’s best known stars feature throughout this fine satire.”
Oh! What a Nurse + Short with Lucy Porter – Thursday, February 13 at 11.45am, Watershed
“Lucy Porter introduces two films linked by their takes on marriage. The short, Le Torchon Brule (1911) is by far the oldest and shortest in this year’s programme. The main feature is Oh! What a Nurse! (1926).”
Keaton: The Saphead with Polly Rose – Thursday, February 13 at 1.45pm, Watershed
“Buster Keaton makes his feature film debut in The Saphead, directed by the husband of ground breaking filmmaker Alice Guy. Keaton plays Bertie, the pampered son of a silver mine owner.”
Keaton: A Double Helping with Melissa Talmadge Cox & Polly Rose – Thursday, February 13 at 3.30pm, Watershed
“Buster’s granddaughter Melissa Talmadge Cox and Keaton scholar Polly Rose introduce the Great Stoneface’s final silent, the Berlin Festival award-winning The Railrodder.”
Alasdair Beckett-King’s Laurel & Hardy Mayhem – Thursday, February 13 at 6pm, Bristol Megascreen (Aquarium)
“Slapstick is thrilled to welcome award-winning comedian Alasdair Beckett-King to host our annual celebration of the greatest comedy duo of all time: Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy.”
The Great Dictator (1940) with Alasdair Beckett-King & Robin Ince – Thursday, February 13 at 8pm, Bristol Megascreen (Aquarium)
“Alasdair and Robin introduce this special big screen outing of Chaplin’s masterful and timely satire. Released before the USA entered WWII and takes its aim at authoritarianism, racism, and war.”
The Girl With A Hat Box with Lucy Porter – Friday, February 14 at 9.30am, Watershed
“Satirical films from the old Soviet Union, starring the Ukrainian/Swedish beauty, Anna Sten – later whisked to Hollywood by Sam Goldwyn who dubbed her ‘the new Greta Garbo’.”
Soviet Comedies of the 1920s + Chess Fever with Pamela Hutchinson – Friday, February 14 at 11.40am, Watershed
“Writer film historian and Silent London blogger Pamela Hutchinson offers a context for our Soviet comedies day with a presentation highlighting the influence of 1920s Soviet silent comedies. + Chess Fever (1925).”
The Opportunist with Paul McGann – Friday, February 14 at 1.30pm, Watershed
“A rare find, only recently rediscovered and restored, and from a co-director of Chess Fever, this is a satire about a small-time racketeer trying to turn Bolshevism to his advantage. Profits to be donated to a Ukrainian Charity.”
The House at Trubunya Square with Pamela Hutchinson – Friday, February 14 at 3.30pm, Watershed
“Recognised widely as a masterpiece of Soviet silent cinema, this is also a delightful comedy of manners satirising contemporary life in Moscow during a time of ever-shifting, often contradictory, policies.”
Smashing Melons! Robin Ince & Mark Miodownik – Friday, February 14 at 5.30pm, Waterside 3
“When it comes to the art of punching melons until they explode, no one on the UK mainland can rival Robin Ince’s expertise. From his ill-fated 2004 Edinburgh Show to his critically acclaimed 2023 performance, melons were punched.”
I Was Born, But with Pamela Hutchinson – Saturday, February 15 at 9.30am, Watershed
“It is rare for a film to score 100% on Rotten Tomatoes but this silent comedy-drama – by a Japanese director so in love with Hollywood and Harold Lloyd, he played truant to visit cinemas – does so.”
Slapstick Kids: Wallace & Gromit Double Bill with Peter Lord CBE – Saturday, February 15 at 10am, Watershed
“Join us this half-term for a big screen outing of Aardman Animation’s new feature film Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) starring Wallace & Gromit! This screening is preceded by The Wrong Trousers.”
Don’t Tell Him, Pike! with Rick Wakeman & Matthew Sweet – Saturday, February 15 at 11.30am, Lantern Hall, Bristol Beacon
“There’s another side to musician Rick Wakeman CBE- his love of classic screen comedy. Here, he delves into why he considers Dad’s Army one of the finest comedies ever made and reflects on his friendship with Ian Lavender.”
Tootsie with Harriet Taylor – Saturday, February 15 at 12pm, Watershed
“Dustin Hoffman gives an Oscar nominated performance as an unsuccessful actor who poses as a woman to try for a part in a hit TV series. Introduced by Harriet Taylor in partnership with Queer Vision and Switch.”
Breaking Barriers: Goodness Gracious Me – Anil Gupta, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal in conversation with Matthew Sweet – Saturday, February 15 at 2.15pm, Lantern Hall, Bristol Beacon
“Join the Goodness Gracious Me series’ creators and stars, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, and Anil Gupta, in conversation with host Matthew Sweet as they reflect on the show’s impact and legacy.”
Harry Enfield: Norbert Smith: A Life – Q&A with Harry Enfield & Geoff Posner, hosted by Andrew Kelly – Saturday, February 15 at 4.30pm, Lantern Hall, Bristol Beacon
“Join us for a special screening of Harry Enfield’s ground breaking and acclaimed Mockumentary, Norbert Smith: A Life, followed by a Q&A session.”
Stephen K. Amos: My Comedy Heroes, hosted by Matthew Sweet – Saturday, February 15 at 7pm, Lantern Hall, Bristol Beacon
“Comedian, actor and gay rights champion Stephen K. Amos, talks about his comedy heroes. Featuring clips, Stephen will share why he includes Dave Allen, Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor among his comedy heroes.”
Stephen K. Amos: My Favourite Comedy – Blazing Saddles – Saturday, February 15 at 9.15pm, Lantern Hall, Bristol Beacon
“Stephen K. Amos dives deeper into his admiration for Mel Brooks as he introduces the film he considers his all-time favourite comedy: Blazing Saddles (1974).”
Keaton: Go West (with live accompaniment from members of the European Silent Screen Virtuosi led by Günter A. Buchwald) – Sunday, February 16 at 9.30am, Watershed
“Keaton is both touching and very, very funny in this spoof cowboy film as Friendless, a hapless soul who decides to try his hand at cattle ranching after failing to find a big city job.”
Slapstick Kids: The Haunted Mansion with Adam Murray – Sunday, February 16 at 10am, Watershed
“Eddie Murphy plays the lead in this comedy send-up of every horror film ever built on the premise of a family thinking they’ve found their dream home only for ghosts and ghouls to get in the way. Adults go free!”
There’s also a relaxed screening at 10.15am.
Dr Strangelove: Screening hosted by Samira Ahmed with Harry Enfield, Anil Gupta and Mike McCartney – Sunday, February 16 at 11.30am, Bristol Old Vic Theatre
“Bristol Screening of Stanley Kubrick’s award-winning visionary cinematic satire of the cold war. Followed by: Is Satire Dead? Navigating the Madness of Modern Politics with a panel that includes Harry Enfield, Anil Gupta & Mike (McGear) McCartney.”
‘That’s Really Heavy Man’ in conversation with Robin Ince – Sunday, February 16 at 12pm, Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic
“Nigel Planer is a man of very many parts– actor, poet, comedian, author, playwright, voiceover artist, musician– and possesses a showbiz CV which takes in everything from starring roles in award-winning musicals to TV whodunits.”
Best Seller – Peter Sellers… A Life In Comedy with Robert Ross – Sunday, February 16 at 2.15pm, Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic
“Robert Ross, author of the new book, Best Sellers: Peter Sellers A Life in Comedy, presents an affectionate and hilarious celebration of the comic genius in this, his centenary year.“
Rik! The Anarchic Genius of Rik Mayall with Nigel Planer and Robin Ince – Sunday, February 16 at 3.30pm, Bristol Old Vic Theatre
“Rik Mayall (1958 to 2014) was a pioneer of alternative comedy, writing and performing in a style which revolutionised TV sitcoms. Nigel Planer (who played Neil in the Young Ones alongside Rik) discusses Rik’s legacy with superfan Robin Ince.”
Picture This – Mike Mac’s Stories with Mike McCartney & Adam Hills – Sunday, February 16 at 6.45pm, Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic
“As his brother’s band were enjoying their first chart success, the younger of the McCartney brothers was adopting the name Mike McGear and forming satirical comic trio The Scaffold, with poet Roger McGough and comedian John Gorman.”
Harry Enfield’s Top Comedy Moments (in conversation with Robin Ince) – Sunday, February 16 at 6pm, Bristol Old Vic Theatre
“In a rare onstage appearance, Harry will sit down with Robin Ince to share and discuss his favourite comedy moments from TV and film and why these have influenced his own comedy.”
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to The Goodies Part 2 with Graeme Garden & Samira Ahmed – Sunday, February 6 at 7.20pm, Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic
“From Punky Business with Jane Asher to Joan Sims and June Whitfield as gangsters running the world of ballroom dancing, Samira Ahmed and Graeme Garden present clips and discuss comic actresses who featured in The Goodies TV series.”
Ben Elton: Comedy Legend with special guest host Adam Hills – Sunday, February 16 at 8.30pm, Bristol Old Vic Theatre
“This year’s winner of the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award is comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director Ben Elton.”
Are tickets still available? And how much do they cost?
Tickets can be bought separately for each single event – some of the particularly popular ones have already sold out or are close to doing so. You can check each event on the official line-up page here, or by clicking the links above.
If you’re planning to attend more than a handful of events at Slapstick Festival, you may want to think about purchasing a Slapstick Festival pass. They grant you access to events in multiple venues and range in price between £140-250 – according to the website, “enjoy a fuller festival experience while getting nearly 50 per cent off regular ticket prices”.