23rd Slapstick Festival: Buster Keaton's The General

Step into the golden age of cinema at Bristol’s 23rd Slapstick Festival, where the Silent Comedy Gala takes center stage. This year’s marquee highlight is Buster Keaton’s legendary masterpiece **The General** (1926), a film that still ranks among the greatest ever made and delivers the same exhilarating, inventive comedy a century later. Forget streaming – here the silent icons roar off a giant cinema screen, surrounded by a buzzing audience, while the acclaimed European Silent Screen Virtuosi breathe new life into each frame. Led by internationally renowned musicians Maestro Günter A. Buchwald and Frank Bockius, the live musical accompaniment turns every jump cut, barrel roll and pratfall into a thrilling, immediate experience. Following Keaton’s triumph, the program includes Charlie Chaplin’s adventurous **The Adventurer** (1917), where the underdog trades escape and romance for comic genius, and Laurel & Hardy’s **With Love and Hisses** (1927), a riotous military caper that showcases the duo’s trademark confusion. Special guest hosts – to be announced – will join the fun, a tradition that has welcomed Victoria Wood, Hugh Bonneville, Martin Freeman, Stephen Mangan and other comedy legends. Whether you’re a silent‑film aficionado or a newcomer, this family‑friendly evening promises laughter, awe and a unique chance to experience classic cinema on the big screen. Grab your tickets and let the Slapstick Silent Comedy Gala become one of Bristol’s most magical cultural moments.