Good journalism costs money Upgrade to paid
Buster Keaton silent comedy screenings with music by R.E.M. and Amon Tobin.
Leigh Curtis
Exeter Phoenix is hosting screenings of Buster Keaton silent comedies accompanied by music from American rock band R.E.M. and electronic artist Amon Tobin on Thursday 6 and Saturday 7 February.
Sherlock Jr. (1924), directed by and starring Buster Keaton, follows a projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective. He makes use of his limited skills when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket watch.
The film will be accompanied by tracks from R.E.M. albums Monster, released in 1994, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi, released in 1996.
Sherlock Jr. was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1991.
Sherlock Jr. will be preceded by The Balloonatic (1923), one of Buster Keaton’s final short films. It will be accompanied by a new composition by Brazilian electronic musician Amon Tobin.
The screenings have been put together by Silents Synced, an initiative launched in 2024 which pairs silent film classics with alternative music.
It has previously screened F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922) to music from Radiohead albums Kid A and Amnesiac.
Sherlock Jr. & The Balloonatic are being screened at 8.15pm on Thursday 5 February and 5pm on Saturday 7 February 2026 in Studio 74 at Exeter Phoenix.
Tickets cost £12, or £10 for students, under-25s and Exeter Phoenix members.
For more information and to book visit the Exeter Phoenix website.
The only way to cover the cost of producing and publishing Exeter Observer’s independent public interest journalism is by readers helping to pay for it.
Each of our paying subscribers keeps us up and running for one day each year by chipping in less than £2/week.
Our members contribute more towards our running costs and get more in return.
152 of the 300 paying subscribers we need to break even and keep publishing have signed up so far.
If you think Exeter needs the kind of journalism we provide then please join them today and get access to exclusive premium content and more.
Exeter City Council is about to seize the helm of Exe estuary maritime life: will it steer it onto the rocks?
Charges for waterways access are set to be imposed from the quay and canal basin to the coast under proposed Harbour Revision Order powers after six years of rising costs propelled by pursuit of Port Marine Safety Code compliance. They risk driving away craft of all sizes, from kayaks to yachts, while redevelopment threatens canalside land – but it’s not too late to change course.
, updated
Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%
Public consultation on changes explores possibility of closing some branches altogether despite claims to the contrary while Libraries Unlimited contract extension decision scheduled for six weeks before consultation ends.
Exeter City Council adds 813 more student and “co-living” beds to city “housing” supply with Heavitree Road approval
Complex of seven blocks up to six storeys tall on site of police station and magistrates court to bring purpose-built temporary accommodation tally to 3,250 beds in Newtown alone – while failing to meet local plan minimum building separation policy.
Exeter College and Petroc merger to go ahead in January
Further and higher education colleges with Barnstaple, Tiverton and several Exeter sites will become Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group after year-long process including public consultation showing two-thirds in support.
Exeter City Council approves 54 more dwellings in Topsham gap on former golf driving range
Greenfield development follows council approval of plans enabling driving range relocation to privately-owned land in Ludwell Valley Park.
St Petrock’s launches fundraising appeal as number of people sleeping rough in Exeter continues to rise
Campaign film underscores dedicated homelessness charity mission as demand for its support services grows.
McCarthy Stone amends Heavitree school playing field retirement complex plans to trigger second public consultation
Developer makes minor adjustments to proposals for 36 retirement flats which have prompted concerns about loss of green space and adverse impact on historic character of conservation area.
