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. 
 

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, Zoe Rahman (China 2025)

Writer and Director Paul Hunter

Designer Ioana Curelea 

Lighting Designer Aideen Malone

Composer Zoe Rahman

Film Content Designer Leah Bierman (Cunard and China 2025)

Physical Comedy Consultant Jos Houben 

Song Arrangement Sophie Cotton

Dance Choreography Nuna Sandy for ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company

Associate Lighting Designer Catja Hamilton (China 2025)

 

Production Manager Martyn Sands

Technical Stage Manager Simon Perkins (Cunard and China 2025)

Deputy Stage Manager Connie Yip (Cunard and China 2025)

Assistant Stage Manager Alex Hobbs (China 2025)

LX1 and Relighter Austin Yang (China 2025)

Video Programmer Caitlyn Russell (Cunard and China 2025)

 

From an idea by Irene Cotton 

With additional material from the company

 

Previous Tour Dates

2025 

24 June – 1 July Queen Mary 2 Voyage

23 – 26 October 2025 Great Theatre of China, Shanghai

1 - 2 November 2025 Beijing Performing Arts Centre

2023

18 January – 4 February Wilton’s Music Hall

7 – 11 February Mercury Theatre  

14 – 18 February York Theatre Royal   

21 – 23 February MAST Mayflower Studios   

28 February – 4 March Derby Theatre   

2021

17 – 24 July Theatre Royal Bath 

1 – 12 August Minack Theatre Cornwall 

14 – 15 August Theatebarn Evesham 

16 – 21 August Malvern Festival Theatre 

31 August – 4 September Everyman Theatre Cheltenham

7 – 11 September The Lowry 

4 – 9 October Oxford Playhouse 

 

Access 

This show is accessible to 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.
 

Media




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.