Past Productions The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel 2019 - 2020 A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production with Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an Idiot In 1910 the unknown Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel set sail for New York as part of Fred Karno's famous music hall troupe. On this journey, Charlie and Stan shared a cabin and then spent two years together touring North America, with Stan as Charlie’s understudy. Stan returned home, later finding success with his soulmate Oliver Hardy. Charlie developed his Little Tramp character and within five years became one of the most famous figures in the world. In Charlie Chaplin’s highly detailed autobiography Stan Laurel is never mentioned. Stan talked about Charlie all his life. Playing fast and loose with the facts and with an original piano score composed by Mercury Award Nominee Zoe Rahman played live each night, The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel is no nostalgic bio-drama, but a hilarious and deeply moving homage to two men who changed the world of comedy forever. Co-commissioned by London International Mime Festival. The production was accessible to D/deaf audiences. The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel was performed mainly without words, but did contain music and some short songs (lyrics here). Silent film style captions were used throughout to add detail to the action on stage. Reviews ★★★★ ‘this fantasia on Chaplin and Laurel... is seldom less than magical’ GUARDIAN ★★★★ ‘blissful entertainment…A treat, silly and sublime’ TELEGRAPH ★★★★ 'noisy mime that tells a thousand comic words' DAILY MAIL ★★★★ 'can’t help but leave the broadest of grins on its audience’s faces’ REVIEWSHUB ★★★★★ ‘riotous masterclass in storytelling’ WHATSONSTAGE Credits Created by Told by an Idiot Performers: Sara Alexander, Nick Haverson, Jerone Marsh-Reid, Amalia Vitale Writer and Director Paul Hunter Designer Ioana Curelea (Naomi Wilkinson Award for Stage Design 2019) 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 Production Production Manager (for Told by an Idiot) Hannah Blamire Technical Stage Manager Sophie Tetlow Deputy Stage Manager Leona Nally ASM (rehearsal and Theatre Royal Plymouth) Rachel Middlemore Wardrobe ASM (tour) Sophie Fuller PR by Nancy Poole PR (07957342850 [email protected]) The Naomi Wilkinson Award for Stage Design is kindly supported by the Charles Mason and Naomi Wilkinson Foundation. Take a look at the programme here Read The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel rehearsal blog here Tour Dates 2019 14 - 30 November Theatre Royal Plymouth 2020 9 - 10 January Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg 14 - 18 January Wilton's Music Hall as part of London International Mime Festival 21 - 25 January Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre 4 - 8 February HOME, Manchester 11 - 15 February Northern Stage, Newcastle 18 - 22 February Unity Theatre, Liverpool 25 - 29 February Birmingham Repertory Theatre 3 - 7 March Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 10 - 21 March Royal & Derngate, Northampton 24 - 28 March Exeter Northcott 50.36993690 -4.14472190 1 /the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel-trp 1. Theatre Royal Plymouth - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an Idiot Read more 49.61264040 6.12993930 2 /the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel-les-thtres-de-la-ville-de-luxembourg 2. Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an Idiot Read more 51.51070130 -0.06689670 3 /london-international-mime-festival-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 3. London International Mime Festival - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 50.84289100 -0.77727150 4 /chichester-festival-theatre-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 4. Chichester Festival Theatre - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 53.47374210 -2.24638910 5 /home-manchester-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 5. HOME Manchester - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 54.97935590 -1.61411460 6 /northern-stage-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 6. Northern Stage - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 53.40105600 -2.97196300 7 /unity-theatre-liverpool-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 7. Unity Theatre, Liverpool - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 52.47954440 -1.90949800 8 /birmingham-repertory-theatre-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 8. Birmingham Repertory Theatre - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 54.28044140 -0.40566710 9 /stephen-joseph-theatre-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 9. Stephen Joseph Theatre - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 52.23620480 -0.89326510 10 /royal-derngate-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 10. Royal & Derngate - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more 50.73583330 -3.53527780 11 /exeter-northcott-the-strange-tale-of-charlie-chaplin-and-stan-laurel 11. Exeter Northcott - The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel A Told by an Idiot and Theatre Royal Plymouth production The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Unity Theatre, Liverpool Created by Told by an IdiotRead more Gallery The events in this play are fictional. This play is certainly not endorsed by the estates of Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel or anyone else for that matter!