Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin began performing at an early age, touring music halls and later working as a stage actor, comedian and ‘comedy tumbler’.

Northwich Guardian: Unsilent Movies: Charlie Chaplin

At 19, he was signed to the prestigious Fred Karno company, which took him to America where he entered the film industry and then eventually opened his own studio becoming a worldwide star.

Norman Wisdom

I have so many comedy heroes but Norman Wisdom is as close to a modern vaudeville performer as you will get.

His ‘tumbling’ talent and an ability to perform hilarious physical comedy even moved an ageing Chaplin to tell Norman he had succeeded him in the genre. Praise indeed!’

Morecambe and Wise

To a generation of comedy fans Morecambe and Wise defined the art of the double-act, evolving their theatre performances into television gold.

Northwich Guardian: Bring me sunshine - statue of Morecambe and Wise to be unveiled in Blackpool

They refined and developed their comedy over the years into iconic Christmas TV Specials, which the whole nation would sit down to watch on Christmas Day.

Rowan Atkinson

Mr Bean has his origins in vaudeville, with silent comedy at its heart. A latter day Marcel Marceau, Rowan’s comedy talent was first illustrated on stage in sketches, touring the country with Richard Curtis, his long-time writing colleague.

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Atkinson’s talent proved to be much broader than silent comedy with brilliant performances throughout Blackadder and film roles including the incompetent vicar in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

The Good Old Days

Hosted by MC Leonard Sachs, this TV series was performed and filmed at the Leeds City Varieties Theatre and recreated an authentic atmosphere of the Victorian–Edwardian music hall with songs and sketches of the era performed by present-day performers, in the style of the original artistes. It ran for 30 years and involved 245 episodes.

  • For tickets to the Lymm Vaudeville Show in Lymm on June 15 call 755590 or email fiona@spa-group.co.uk