Following a sell-out run in 2021, Told by an Idiot are taking their ★★★★★ production, Charlie and Stan, back on the road for 2023!

This 80-minute jam-packed show is non-stop entertainment, and tells the true(ish) story of the greatest comedy double act that 'almost' was; Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel (the Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame).
 
From their early days in showbiz sharing a stage, and even sharing a cabin on a voyage to New York, Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel went on to become two of the biggest stars of the age. Stan Laurel, however, is not mentioned in Chaplin's autobiography once. So what happened?
 
Accompanied by live music throughout (composed by MOBO Award winning jazz musician Zoe Rahman) this hilarious homage to the silent movie era, and to two young comedians on a voyage of self-discovery, is a guaranteed good night out not to be missed. 

 

Click here for our Charlie and Stan digital programme

 

Reviews

★  'A riotous masterclass in mime, slapstick comedy, and pratfalls' THEATRE WEEKLY

★ 'A joy to watch...I loved everything about this show and left the theatre with a spring in my step' LONDONTHEATRE1

★★★★ 'Can't help but leave the broadest of grins on its audiences' faces' REVIEWS HUB 

★★★★ ‘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

★★★★ 'Engagingly high-energy…plenty of inventive touches' THE STAGE

★ ‘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

Associate Lighting Designer Ben Cowens

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

18 January - 4 February      Wilton's Music Hall, London - as part of London International Mime Festival 

7 - 11 February                         Mercury Theatre, Colchester

14 - 18 February                      York Theatre Royal 

21 - 25 February                       MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton

28 February - 4 March          Derby Theatre

 

Click here to find out about other Charlie and Stan events that took place on tour

 

Access 

This show is accessible to D/deaf audiences. It is without words, very physical and performed in the style of a silent movie, featuring occasional intertitles to help tell the story. There are 2 songs in the show, which are not captioned. Click here to read the lyrics.
 

Workshops

Book your place for our professional development workshop inspired by Charlie and Stan here (4th and 5th February, London).

We also have a schools workshop for KS3, 4 and 5 find out more here

 

Gallery







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.