Slapstick Festival

Film festival in Bristol, England

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Slapstick Festival is an annual celebration of silent, visual and classic film comedy held every year in Bristol, Southwest England. It is one of a select few events, dedicated to showcasing silent visual and classic comedy, featuring rare archival film comedies from around the world. The festival aims to source original film prints and present them as they were initially enjoyed- accompanied by live improvised music. These events take place in key venues in Bristol, such as The Bristol Old Vic, The Bristol Beacon, and The Watershed.

Since 2009, the festival has awarded the Aardman Slapstick Awards, which were developed in 2008. Notable recipients include Eric Sykes, Ken Dodd, and French and Saunders.

## History

[edit]

Founded by Bristol Silents in 2004, the inaugural Slapstick Festival took place from January 13 to January 16, 2005. Since then, the festival has returned annually and has attracted high-profile guests such as:

* Sanjeev Bashkar
* Terry Gilliam
* Ben Elton
* Martin Freeman
* Eric Sykes
* Sir Michael Palin
* Christopher Chaplin
* David Robinson
* Shappi Khorsandi
* Graeme Garden
* Tim Brooke-Taylor
* Jean Darling (of Our Gang fame)
* Diana Serra Cary (aka Baby Peggy)
* Phil Jupitus
* Rob Brydon MBE
* Bill Oddie OBE
* Ian Lavender

The festival grew out of Bristol Silents' dedication to reviving and celebrating classic films from the early days of cinema. Initially planned as a one-off weekend event, its success highlighted the demand for a dedicated annual Slapstick Festival. While primarily focused on slapstick films from the silent era, the festival also celebrates contemporary comedians influenced by these early cinematic pioneers.

## Awards

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### Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award

[edit]

Slapstick Festival presents this award in collaboration with Aardman Animations. Winners are selected by a panel of comedy heroes, previous recipients and festival patrons. This award is dedicated to honouring contemporary comedians who have left an lasting mark on the realm of onscreen and live comedy. The trophy itself, featuring the beloved Aardman character Morph is sculpted by Aardman's model shop to capture the essence of the awardee. [1]

Past winners:

* 2013: June Whitfield[2]
* 2014: Barry Humphries[3]
* 2015: Barry Cryer[4]
* 2016: Ken Dodd[5]
* 2017: Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders[6]
* 2019: Julie Walters
* 2024: Robert Lindsay
* 2025: Ben Elton

### Aardman Slapstick Visual Comedy Award

[edit]

Created to recognise the excellence of comedians and film makers in the field of visual comedy. The award is a Morph sculpted to resemble the recipient.[7]

Past winners:

* 2009: Eric Sykes[8]
* 2010: Michael Palin[9]
* 2011: The Goodies[10]
* 2012: Pierre Étaix[11]
* 2015: Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer[12]
* 2016: Michael Crawford[13]
* 2024 Terry Gilliam [1]

### Slapstick Legacy Award

[edit]

This award is given to performers and filmmakers who have created Slapstick and Visual comedy onscreen work worthy of mention alongside the original performers in early silent comedy.

* 2024: Sylvester McCoy: Vision On, Dr Who, The Ken Campbell Roadshow
* 2023: Harry Hill: Harry Hill's Lonely Island (2021-2)
* 2022: Tiswas presented to Chris Tarrant, Sally James, Bob Carolgees and John Gorman
* 2021: Remy Archer & Tom Gaskin: Snake Oil
* 2018: The Young Ones
* 2017: Roy Hudd
* 2016: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith & David Kerr: A Quiet Night In
* 2015: Matt Lucas: Pompidou TV series (2014)
* 2024: Sylvester McCoy
* 2025: Ryland Brickston Cole Tews: Hundreds of Beavers

## Musical Accompaniment

[edit]

The Slapstick Festival is committed to presenting silent films and classic comedies as they were originally experienced. Every silent film screening is accompanied by live music, with pianists improvising scores to match the mood of each film. Additionally, the Slapstick Silent Comedy Gala at Bristol Beacon features live orchestral scores.

To maintain this authentic experience, the festival has worked with an array of musicians under the guidance of Günter A. Buchwald (Musical Director). The list of regular musicians include:

* Günter A. Buchwald – Musical Director
* Frank Martin Bockius – Double Bassist
* Romano Todesco – Double Bassist and Accordionist
* John Sweeney – Pianist
* Stephen Horne – Pianist
* Elizabeth-Jane Baldry – Harpist
* Daan van den Hurk – Pianist
* Rick Wakeman
* Adrian Utley
* Meg Morley – Pianist

Additionally, the festival has featured performances by The Matinee Idles, a doo-wop a cappella group.

## Patrons

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\- Kevin Brownlow

\- Mike McCartney

\- Marcus Brigstocke

\- Rob Brydon MBE

\- Bernie Clifton

\- Dr Harriet Fields

\- Graeme Garden OBE

\- Peter Lord CBE

\- Matt Lucas

\- Paul McGann

\- Bill Oddie OBE

\- Sir Michael Palin

\- Nick Park CBE

\- David Robinson

\- David Sproxton CBE

\- Suzanne Lloyd

## References

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1. ^ "StackPath". www.slapstick.org.uk. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
2. ^ "Comedy award for June Whitfield". BBC News. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
3. ^ Solutions, Powder Blue Internet Business. "French and Saunders are officially legends : News 2017 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2019. `{{cite web}}`: `|first=` has generic name (help)
4. ^ Reporter (31 March 2015). "Comedy genius Barry Cryer has left us in tears with laughter!". Sunday Post. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
5. ^ "Ken Dodd receives Slapstick Comedy Legend award". British Comedy Guide. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
6. ^ "French and Saunders reunited in Bristol to receive comedy award". ITV News. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
7. ^ "StackPath". www.slapstick.org.uk. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
8. ^ "Vic and Bob win slapstick award". 26 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
9. ^ "Comedy honour for Michael Palin". 22 January 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
10. ^ Robson, Dave (28 January 2015). "Vic and Bob's slapstick skills earn award from Wallace and Gromit creators". gazettelive. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
11. ^ "Slapstick Festival 2017". www.culturecalling.com. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
12. ^ "Vic and Bob receive Aardman Slapstick award". Bristol 24/7. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
13. ^ BWW News Desk. "Michael Crawford to Be Honored with Visual Comedy Legend Award 8 April; Plus Career Conversation". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 4 July 2019.

## External links

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Official website

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Culture in Bristol

Venues|

* Ashton Gate
* Bristol Arena (proposed)
* Bristol County Ground
* Bristol Hippodrome
* Bristol Old Vic
* Bristol Beacon
* Cube Microplex
* Exchange
* Memorial Stadium
* O2 Academy Bristol
* QEH Theatre
* Redgrave Theatre
* St George's, Brandon Hill
* The Thekla
* Tobacco Factory
* Victoria Rooms
* Watershed
* Whiteladies Picture House
* Wickham Theatre
* Winston Theatre

Festivals|

* Afrika Eye
* Bristol Festival of Ideas
* Bristol Harbour Festival
* Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
* Bristol Shakespeare Festival
* Festival of Nature
* Kite Festival
* Pride Bristol
* Slapstick Festival
* St Pauls Carnival
* Upfest

Museums, galleries,
archives and public art|

* Arnolfini
* Blaise Castle
* Blaise Hamlet
* Banksy
* Bristol Archives
* Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
* Bristol Harbour Railway
* Bristol Zoo
* Clifton Observatory
* Georgian House
* Glenside Museum
* Kings Weston Roman Villa
* M Shed
* Red Lodge Museum
* Royal West of England Academy
* See No Evil
* SS Great Britain
* We The Curious
* Wild Place Project

Parks &
Open Spaces|

* Parks of Bristol
* Ashton Court
* Blaise Castle
* Brandon Hill
* Castle Park
* College Green
* The Downs
* Eastville Park
* Greville Smyth Park
* Kings Weston Hill
* Lamplighters Marsh
* Perrett's Park
* Redland Green
* Oldbury Court Estate
* Queen Square
* Snuff Mills
* St George's Park
* Stoke Park
* Troopers Hill
* Victoria Park

Churches|

* All Saints' Church
* Bristol Cathedral
* Bristol Community Church
* Broadmead Baptist Church
* Buckingham Baptist Chapel
* Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne
* Christ Church, Clifton Down
* Christ Church with St Ewen
* Church of All Saints
* Church of Holy Trinity, Hotwells
* Church of Holy Trinity, Stapleton
* Church of Our Lady of Ostrobrama
* Church of the Holy Trinity with St Edmund
* Church of St John the Baptist
* City Road Baptist Church
* Cotham Church
* Counterslip Baptist Church
* Clifton Cathedral
* Crofts End Church
* John Wesley's New Room
* Holy Trinity Church, Kingswood
* Holy Trinity Church, Westbury on Trym
* Horfield United Reformed Church
* Hope Chapel
* Lewin's Mead Unitarian meeting house
* Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles
* St Mary Redcliffe
* Redland Chapel
* St. Augustine's Church, Whitchurch
* St Augustine the Less Church
* St George's Church
* St James' Presbyterian
* St James' Priory
* St John the Baptist
* St Luke's Church
* St Mark's Church
* St Mary le Port Church
* St Mary on the Quay
* St Mary's Church, Henbury
* St Matthew's Church
* St Michael on the Mount Without
* St Nicholas
* St Paul's Church
* St Paul's, Clifton
* St Peter and St Paul
* St Peter's Church, Bishopsworth
* St Peter's Church, Castle Park
* St Philip and St Jacob
* St Stephen's Church
* St Thomas the Martyr
* St Werburgh's Church
* Temple Church
* Trinity Centre
* Tyndale Baptist Church
* Whitefield's Tabernacle, Kingswood
* Woodlands Christian Centre

Pubs|

* Black Castle
* The Crown
* The Coronation Tap
* The Famous Royal Naval Volunteer
* Hatchet Inn
* King William Ale House
* The Lido
* Llandoger Trow
* Mauretania, Bristol
* Nova Scotia
* The Old Duke
* Old Post Office
* Palace Hotel
* Printers Devil
* Pump House
* Seven Stars
* Shakespeare Inn
* The Shakespeare
* Stag and Hounds

Former attractions|

* Ashton Court Festival
* Bierkeller Theatre
* British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
* Bristol Industrial Museum
* Jacobs Well Theatre
* Redcliffe Hall

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