Homage to silent movie stars comes to Whorlton

A SILENT movie circus extravaganza is rolling into Teesdale for one night only.

Whorlton Village Hall will host The Lion Tamer tonight (Thursday, November 16) – a slapstick production by Cornwall’s Bash Street Theatre.

The Penzance-based family troupe is touring the north of England with its show inspired by the comic works of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

It has been designed for small village halls and stages and promises a mix of pathos, circus skills and slapstick humour all accompanied by piano music.

Actors Simon Pullum and Jojo Pickering started performing in 1991 and take to the stage with their two sons, Finbar and Lochlann, and niece Kesha.

Mr Pullum said: “The story is taken from a Charlie Chaplin film, The Circus, from 1928, where his character, the Tramp, takes the place of a tightrope walker.

“We’ve changed it to a lion tamer.”

The company has built an international reputation for producing fast-moving, silent comedy, street theatre shows with live musical accompaniment.

It has performed the Lion Tamer in the past but Mr Pullum revealed this tour of the region presented a chance to blood some its younger cast members.

He added: “We’re a husband and wife team – our 16-year-old son will be on the piano and Willem, who is 21, is joining us and he is the son of one of the cast members who used to perform with us.

“So it’s a new wave of performers.”

The show is based around a crooked showman and his long-suffering assistant who are running out of acts.

When a down-at-heel traveller arrives looking for work, he is given an audition.

But he takes on more than he bargained for.

The production, complete with black and white props, is being staged in partnership with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme and is suitable for all ages.

“We find the kids have no idea what a silent movie is,” added Mr Pullum.

“They might have seen Laurel and Hardy and have heard of Charlie Chaplin but possibly not. Our hero is Buster Keaton and we’ve done lots of different stories of his ilk. We are looking forward to it.”

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

For ticket information, call Rod Dawson on 01833 627253 or Esther Hingle at Highlights on 07813 696759 or go to https://goo.gl/ AyH7bK to book online.