As part of the BFI’s ongoing COMEDY GENIUS season, this weekend BFI Southbank will be celebrating black comedy legends with some one-off special events, from free haircuts in a pop-up barbershop inspired by Desmond’s to a reunion of The Real McCoy and a screening of House Party.
Comedy Cuts: FREE Barbershop installation – Barbershops & Black Comedy Legends, Fri 16 – Sun 18 Nov from 10:00am, Foyer of BFI Southbank
Events company We Are Parable will present a pop-up Barbershop called Comedy Cuts, inspired by the classic 90s sitcom Desmond’s. Professional barbers will be on hand offering FREE haircuts on a first come, first served basis, with stand-up comedians stopping by for a quick trim and a bit of banter! The Comedy Cuts barbershop will also feature an exclusive interview on 17 November with none other than Trix Worrell, the creator and writer of Desmond’s, who’ll provide fascinating insight into making one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms.
The Black Comedy Revolution, 15:00, NFT2
Black British people are no longer the butt of the joke; we’re now dropping the mic thanks to generations of on-screen comic talent. Norman Beaton passed the mic to Lenny Henry who handed it to TV collectives like The Real McCoy, 3 Non-Blondes, Famalam… This day will bring together many of those intergenerational comedians for riotous confessions and wisdom sharing.
The Real McCoy Reunion, 18:30, NFT2
BBC sketch show The Real McCoy ran for five seasons in the 1990s, a watershed moment in black British comedy. Starring Llewella Gideon, Curtis Walker, Ishmael Thomas, Leo Mohammed, Collette Johnson, Felix Dexter, Judith Jacob and Eddie Nestor who appeared alongside musicians, athletes, and other TV personalities, the show kickstarted numerous careers. This unique event will bring the original cast back together to share memories of that pivotal time.
We are pleased to announce that Judith Jacob, Llewella Gideon, Paulette Randall and Charlie Hanson will take part in this reunion.
House Party, 23:00, NFT1
Kid ‘n’ Play will show you how to party, 1990s style. We Are Parable will be hosting the House Party Lounge in BFI Bar and Kitchen from 9pm, complete with video games, 90s music, themed cocktails and much more. Make a night of it – join us as we step back in time and celebrate the 90s in all their glory.
Get 2 tickets for the price of 1 on any film or event in Black Comedy Weekend by quoting promo code ‘Genius241’
