After the sell-out success of its first year, the Slapstick Silent Comedy Festival, presented by Bristol Silents, returns for a weekend of classic silent film comedy and laughter. Hosted by the inimitable Paul Merton, this year's special festival guest is former silent comedy child star Baby Peggy (Diana Serra Cary). This will be Ms Cary's first UK appearance and she will be regaling audiences with some fascinating tales of life in Hollywood.
 | | Silent star Baby Peggy is special guest |
As a bone fide star of the silver screen (she earned $1 million a picture in the silent days) and the most famous female child star of the 1920s, she has today become one of the best writers on silent Hollywood and is possibly one of the last stars of silent film alive today. Other festival guests include Bristol-based actor Paul McGann a silent film fan and a regular contributor to Bristol Silents events. He'll be performing at the festival with his group 'The Matinee Idles', a live a cappella group. Aardman founder Peter Lord, a long-time Buster Keaton fan, will also be taking part. Along with some top-notch musical accompaniments, Slapstick 2006 promises a weekend bursting with outstanding talents and classic movie magic. Finest and funniest Festival organiser and Bristol Silents founder Chris Daniels said: "Bristol Silents is delighted to be bringing Slapstick back with another selection of the finest and funniest silent comedies on the planet. "We are also building on the strength of last year's excellent musical accompaniment with five international musicians in attendance at the festival, including the wonderful Neil Brand. "What better way to chase away the post Christmas blues than watching wonderful classic comedy with one of Britain's best loved comic personalities?"
 | | Harold Lloyd's epic struggle |
Compare and silent comedy fan Paul Merton (his favourites are Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin), says he is delighted to be returning to Bristol with the festival: "I thoroughly enjoyed the first Slapstick festival and in particular was delighted to see the reactions of young children to the great silent comics. "This year will be bigger, better and even funnier! I'll be at most of the events over the weekend and I look forward to seeing lots of new faces. You won't regret it." The festival kicks off on Friday 20th January with Paul Merton's Silent Comedy Mayhem at the Colston Hall. The evening includes a rare screening of Harold Lloyd's thrill comedy 'Safety Last' accompanied by the world premiere of a live improvised score from The Prima Vista Social Club, a five-piece band featuring silent film maestro Neil Brand. The mayhem continues with two comedy shorts: Laurel and Hardy's tit-for-tat classic Big Business and Charlie Chaplin's acclaimed Easy Street and the return of a cappella group The Matinee Idles featuring Paul McGann and ex-members of doo-wop group Darts. A full programme of events can be found on the Slapstick 2006 website. Slapstick 2006 runs from Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd January 2006, with events at the Bristol Watershed and Colston Hall. | 
