Griff Rhys Jones Presents: Silent Comedy Spectacular
Griff Rhys Jones Presents: Silent Comedy Spectacular - Friday 27<sup>th</sup> January
Featuring Buster Keaton’s masterpiece The General (1926)
Now, in its unprecedented eighth year, Slapstick festival's annual silent comedy gala returns with three comic masterpieces celebrating the great silent comedians and presented by the inimitable comic actor and writer Griff Rhys Jones.
Probably best known for his comedy sketch work on Not the Nine o clock news and Smith and Jones Griff is a prolific writer and actor and is presently creating a major new TV series for BBC1.
A passionate admirer of silent comedy he says ‘”Most people don’t realise that Slapstick comedy is really where I began I used to do a series of routines based around falling over on stage and then starred in the West End in Charley's Aunt which requires a whole series of pratfalls, double takes and I really believe that you cannot play nineteenth or twentieth century farce without reference to silent comedy films. I’m delighted to be coming to Bristol in January to host this event.”
Buster Keaton's feature length classic comedy The General (1926) is considered an undisputed masterpiece of cinema and features in the top 20 of the American Film Institute's top 100 films and their top 100 comedies of all time.
Set in the Amercian Civil War, Buster Keaton plays Jonnie Gray unable to enlist in the Confederate army because he is needed as a railroad engineer. His sweetheart, who thinks he's a coward, won't talk to him until he's in uniform.
Plus comedy shorts from Laurel & Hardy in The Finishing Touch (1928) and Charlie Chaplin in The Adventurer (1916).
All screened with live music including the World Premiere of a new score for The General composed and conducted by Guenter A Buchwald and performed by members of the European Silent Screen Virtuosi and Bristol Ensemble. Plus The Matinee Idles (featuring Paul McGann).
Book early to avoid disappointment!
Slapstick Festival 2012
For lovers of classic comedy, this is a festival not to be missed. Don't miss Terry Jones presenting a screening of Monty Python's Life of Brian and the very special evening with Ian Lavender, celebrating Dad's Army.
If you would like to catch all three events, there is a special discounted rate of £40 for all three events. Click here to make the most of the discounted rate, or call the box office on 0117 922 3686.
Downloadable document
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Seating plan
Download the seating plan for this show.
Griff Rhys Jones Presents: Silent Comedy Spectacular
Now, in its unprecedented eighth year, Slapstick festival's annual silent comedy gala
returns with three masterpieces of silent comedy presented by a top celebrity host (to be announced in September) and accompanied by world class live music.
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