Flatpack Cinema bringing funny films to Wolverhampton comedy festival

Creative Black Country together with Wolves Civic and Accord are bringing a brand new comedy festival to Wolverhampton - Funny Things.

From October 23 to November 7 Wolverhampton will be home to over 100 events exploring humour and comedy, ranging from theatre and family activities to stand-up and artist commissions.

Flatpack: Assemble will be highlighting comedy in cinema with a range of funny film events on offer.

On October 25 at Newhampton Arts Centre visitors will be able to take part in Silent Clowns: A Slapstick Workshop. Flatpack will introduce a group of budding silent comedians to some of the funniest scenes from the silent film era, and teach them the tricks of the silent comedy trade through clowning, games, and performing little skits. At the end of the workshop parents will be invited to see a short performance.

Later in the day audiences can celebrate the custard pie in comedy - which became prominent in 1909 after veteran comic Ben Turpin because the first film actor to get hit in the face with a custard pie.

Flatpack will be celebrating this by studying the art of throwing the custard pie with a selection of silent and sound shorts from films of the 1910s, 20s and 30s. A pianist will accompany the films, whilst performer Katie O’Malley will orchestrate the ceremony.

On October 28 visitors to the Light House Media Centre can celebrate a century of Charlie Chaplin with a live accompaniment.

Flatpack will be showcasing some of the funniest moments from the Chaplin archive in a short film compilation in honour of Chaplin’s centenary.

In a special Halloween event, The Giffard Arms are set to screen kooky vampire flick What We Do In The Shadows.

Starring Jemain Clement, Taika Waititi and Jonathan Brugh - housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and the perks of being undead in this hilarious comedy film.

Family event DIY Drive In: Nature's Tales follows on November 4 at Wolverhampto Art Gallery, where visitors are encouraged to join the Flatpack Film in building their own cars using scrap and craft materials.

They will then be treated to a screening of Nature's Tales, a programme of colourful short animated films.

Funny Things takes place from October 23 to November 7 in venues across Wolverhampton.

For more information on the Flatpack: Assemble film events go to the Flatpack Film Festival website.

For the full Funny Things programme and to find out more, head over to the Funny Things website.