In 1910, the then unknown Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel set sail onboard a steamer from Liverpool to New York as part of Fred Karno’s famous music hall troupe. On the voyage, they shared a cabin, they shared comedy routines and by the end of the journey they had drifted apart… but they would both go on to become two of the biggest stars of the age.

Inspired by real life events, Told by an Idiot’s acclaimed production of Charlie and Stan is the remarkable story of the greatest comedy double act that nearly was. With an original piano score played live every night, Charlie and Stan is a hilarious and deeply moving homage to two men who changed the world of comedy forever.

This show is accessible to D/deaf audiences. It is non-verbal, very physical and performed in the style of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel featuring occasional silent era movie intertitles to help tell the story. There are 2 songs in the show, which are not captioned. Click here to read the lyrics.

Originally produced by Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth with Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool and co-commissioned by London International Mime Festival. 

 

Reviews

★★★★ ‘this fantasia on Chaplin and Laurel... is seldom less than magical’ GUARDIAN

★ 'noisy mime that tells a thousand comic words' DAILY MAIL

★★★★ 'Invention stuffed and music crammed...A glimpse of the double-act that could have been in this silly, sublime treat' DAILY TELEGRAPH

★ ‘Hilarious... A riotous masterclass in storytelling’ WHATSONSTAGE

 

Credits

Created by Told by an Idiot

Performers: Sara Alexander, Danielle BirdNick HaversonJerone Marsh-Reid

Writer and Director Paul Hunter

Designer Ioana Curelea 

Lighting Designer Aideen Malone

Composer Zoe Rahman

Physical Comedy Consultant Jos Houben 

Song Arrangement Sophie Cotton

Dance Choreography Nuna Sandy for ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company

Video Designer Dom Baker

Assistant Director Andrea Cabrera Luna 

From an idea by Irene Cotton 

With additional material from the company

 

Tour Dates

14 – 24 July                                Theatre Royal Bath 

1 – 12 August                             Minack Theatre, Cornwall 

14 - 15 August                           Theatrebarn, Evesham

16 - 21 August                           Malvern Festival Theatre

1 - 3 September                        Everyman Theatre Cheltenham

13 - 18 September                  The Lowry

20 - 25 September                  Cambridge Arts Theatre

5 - 9 October                              Oxford Playhouse

 

Gallery