Five stand-out stand-up comedians will be on the bill of a fundraiser at Bath’s The Forum on Wednesday 22 January which aims to make it possible for the UK’s biggest celebration of silent screen and classic comedy – Slapstick – to begin hosting events in the city.
Slapstick’s ROLLING FUNDER event – starring Omid Djalili, Jon Richardson, Count Arthur Strong, Lucy Porter and Angela Barnes – will be the first Bristol-based festival to be held in Bath and is set to fund a new partnership with The Forum – an Art Deco former cinema opened in 1934.
Festival Director Chris Daniels says:: “It is a privilege to offer Forum visitors the chance to enjoy so many talented comedians all on the same night for under £30 and in such a fitting venue for a festival celebrating the work of comedians who were huge stars at the time films were first shown in the building. “
He added: “We’re also hoping the event raises enough for us to bring some of these early films back to the Forum’s big screen, with plans already being made for a Gala event, with live music and a celebrity host, in the summer of 2020.”
Tickets for ROLLING FUNDER are priced from £22.50 to £26.50 including booking fees and can be booked via the Slapstick website – www.slapstick.org.uk – or by contacting The Forum’s box office on 0844 888 9991.
Forum manager Bryn Williams said: “We’re excited that the Forum will be hosting Slapstick’s Rolling Funder fund-raising event and are hopeful it will be the start of an ongoing relationship which will let the renowned Slapstick festival stage events at different times of year while also adding to Bath’s already exceptional appeal as a tourist destination.”
As well as ROLLING THUNDER being Slapstick’s first event in Bath, the January 22 event also heralds the start of Slapstick 2020 which runs at various Bristol venues from January 23 to January 26 and takes in more than 20 events.
Attractions include Stephen Merchant saluting Laurel & Hardy; two film and music events in Bristol Cathedral; screenings of rare, rediscovered &/or newly restored silents; stand-up comedy lessons for young people from Harry Hill; a 50th-anniversary tribute to The Goodies and celebrations of three other ground-breaking comedy series, I’M SORRY I’LL READ THAT AGAIN, AT LAST THE 1948 SHOW and I’M SORRY I HAVEN’T A CLUE, with members of their original casts.
For details of all Slapstick 2020 events and to keep up to date with other Slapstick news, see www.slapstick.org.uk; find Slapstick Festival on Facebook or follow @SlapstickFest on Twitter.
Slapstick is a not-for-profit venture heavily reliant on fee-free appearances by guests, sponsorship in kind from many local businesses and the help of volunteers.
The festival’s principal funders are Aardman Animations (www.aardman.com) and the British Film Institute (www.bfi.org.uk).
