Not so young any more – actually, not all still alive – but The Young Ones ride again for Slapstick
THE YOUNG ONES The Bristol Connection • The house the students share is 1 Codrington Road, at its corner with Broadway Road, Bishopston • The Westbury Park Tavern (in its Cock O’ The North days) stood in as the gang’s local: the Kebab And Calculator • Bristol North Swimming Baths on Gloucester Road was used in several guises, including once as a police station and in another episode as the bank the boys attempted to rob • Different shops near the Baths served as an Army careers office and as TYO’s launderette • The zebra crossing on Linden Road was the one they crossed to get to the Kebab and Calculator and where they recreated the image used on the cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album
2017 is offering a choice of proofs of the decade’s strangeness: a virtually word-free screenplay by the Nobel prize-winning wordsmith Samuel Beckett; a silent short starring the usually chatty Roy Hudd and a newly-found and restored 1968 episode of the BBC series Colour Me Pop, showcasing the magnificently surreal Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.
LET’S DO IT
Hardly a month went by in 2016 without the loss of a much-loved celebrity, with one of the saddest being April’s blow – the shock, early death of Victoria Wood, a favourite with all ages ever since she won a TV talent contest in 1974. Gifted equally as a writer, actress, singer, stand-up, songwriter and director, Wood was also a good friend to Slapstick. So let’s do it. Let’s look back on her huge contribution to comedy with the help of two loyal fans and fellow stand-ups Pippa Evans and Lucy Porter.
ALTERNATIVELY…
Anarchic, brash and hilarious, The Young Ones (1982-84) was the first TV series to come out of
the alternative comedy revolution and it made household names out of its cast. Now Slapstick is bringing two of the show’s regulars – Nigel Planer and Alexei Sayle – back to the city where much of the action was filmed to share clips and look back at its impact. There will also be a separate salute to their co-star, the late Rik Mayall, and, by contrast, to an entertainer of the old school, Tommy Cooper, who died in 1984.
NINETIES, NOUGHTIES, NOW As ever, many festival events will be hosted by current showbiz names, among them Rory Bremner, Marcus Brigstocke, Simon Callow, Barry Cryer, Pippa Evans, Goodies Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, Robin Ince, Neil Innes, Ian Lavender, Lucy Porter and Colin Sell, with yet more expected to put in surprise appearances.
Slapstick 2017 runs from January 18-22 at Arnolfini. Bristol Old Vic, Colston Hall and Watershed. Find the full programme at www.slapstick.org.uk or look out for the free brochures. Tickets start from £8.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 45