Inspired by our production, The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, we worked with underrepresented theatre makers to devise and create short films which capture the skill and spirit of silent movie comedy. 

We screened the films alongside live performances of the production across our 2019-20 tour, as well as online screenings in lockdown in summer 2020. 

'Belgian Bun Bonanza' was created with Funky Llama mentored artists and was screened at Theatre Royal, Plymouth in November 2019.

'Cops & Robbers' was created by Open Theatre artists and was screened at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in February 2020.

Open Theatre also hosted an online screening on 25th July 2020, which featured a longer 15 min version of Cops & Robbers and two other short films made by Open Theatre participants. Click here for the audio described version of the screening and here for the version without audio description. 

'Come With Me Sunshine' was created by Hubbub Theatre artists and was screened at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in February 2020.

The Silent Treatment was generously supported by: Baily Thomas Charitable Trust, Clare Milne Trust, Derby City Council, Heart of England 'Jumping Through Hoops' Youth Fund, Norton Foundation

"A laugh is nothing to be sneezed at" - Greenberg, To Be Or Not to Be (1942)