Musical about Charlie Chaplin's childhood is returning for another run

A musical which tells the story of Charlie Chaplin's childhood, thanks to the playwright's fascinating family connection, is returning for a second run.

Smile is a musical play set in and around a music hall in the famous Lambeth Walk in London.

Written by Isle of Wight playwright Val Hayward, the play is based on family legend - her grandparents went to school with the young Charlie Chaplin.

It was first shown in April but due to popular demand the Niton Playbox team is bringing it back next weekend.

Oliver Back and Polly Careless in Smile (Image: Contributed)

Read our review from the first run of the musical by clicking here

It will be staged at Niton Village Hall on Friday, July 5, at 7.30pm and Saturday, July 6 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets are available via PayPal or by emailing to reserve them on the door, via thenitonplaybox@aol.com.

Val said: "The stories of my grandparents' childhoods and of living through the late Victorian era and into the Edwardian era and the tragedy that was the First World War caught my imagination.

"My great grandmother was a music hall and silent movie pianist.

"My grandparents went to school in Lambeth with the famous Charlie Chaplin. My grandmother’s experiences of life at this time are the stuff of family legend and it occurred to me that my own granddaughters could, along with their acting, singing, dancing friends, bring their ancestor’s story to life in this production."

Smile features popular music of the period and more modern songs, both to tell the story and to suit the taste of the young cast.

Among the cast are Ellen and Polly Careless, Val's granddaughters, so all the events portrayed are part of their family legend too.

Director Ellen Careless (Image: Contributed)

Ellen, 14, is a keen director so she took the helm for Smile.