Buster Keaton Shorts with Improv Soundtrack performed by David Bednall

Buster Keaton is regarded as one of the comic geniuses of the Silent Movie era, and his films contain an array of clever visual jokes, slapstick, and extraordinary stunts, all of which he performed himself in the days long before Health and Safe executives held sway. His films are rarely seen today owing to their silent nature, but this is a rare chance to see them with a live improvised soundtrack!

The Navigator (1924) is a parody of adventure films in which everything which can go wrong does, ending with a dramatic escape from a desert island, whilst Sherlock Jr (1924) contains his most complicated stunts and special effects in a detective fantasy romp.

David Bednall is recognized as one of the leading choral composers of his generation. He is Choral Director of Clifton Cathedral, Musical Director of Bristol Bach Choir, Bristol Chamber Choir and Chew Valley Choral Society, alongside an extensive freelance career. 

His compositions are widely performed, recorded, and broadcast on BBC Radio and Classic FM. His St Mark Passion, commissioned for the BBC Singers, was premiered in 2025 and broadcast on Radio 3 in 2026.

He is highly acclaimed as an organist, and has improvised on live radio, and performed extensively in the UK and abroad, including at Notre-Dame de Paris. He was stunt-organist on Dr Who. He is renowned for his Silent Film improvisations and has performed in the USA and many Film and Arts Festivals across the UK, including Bristol Film Festival, Frome Festival and Oxford Festival of the Arts.

More information can be found at www.davidbednall.com

The Navigator (57 mins)

Sherlock Junior (42 mins)