Slapstick Festival: Silent Comedy Gala at Bristol Beacon

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Valentine’s Day will be celebrated in a unique and unforgettable way at Bristol’s Slapstick Festival, as it marks its 20th-anniversary Silent Comedy Gala. Attendees will experience the magic of three classic silent comedies on the big screen, just as they were meant to be seen, accompanied by live performances from world-class musicians, including legendary keyboardist and ‘Grumpy Old Man’ star Rick Wakeman.

The evening’s highlight features Buster Keaton’s iconic Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928), renowned for its breathtaking stunts and timeless sight gags that have secured Keaton’s place among the greatest comedians in history. The film will be accompanied by the esteemed five-piece ensemble, European Silent Screen Virtuosi, under the direction of maestro Günter A. Buchwald.

Rick Wakeman will offer a live, improvised score to Laurel & Hardy’s final silent short, Angora Love (1929), where the duo’s chaotic encounters with a runaway goat wreak havoc on their landlord. Rounding out the evening’s lineup is Charlie Chaplin’s classic and still-relevant masterpiece, The Immigrant (1917).

Adding to the festivities, a cappella group The Matinee Idles, featuring members from 70s chart-toppers DARTS, and actor Paul McGann, will pay tribute to their debut performance at the first Silent Comedy Gala at Bristol Beacon in 2005.

To top it all off, a special guest host, yet to be announced, will make the evening even more memorable.

Running time

Approx Running time 3 hours, including 20min interval

BSL interpreted event

Tickets:
Between £15 and £55