ONE of the cinematic and stage icons of the last century will be celebrated in Malvern shortly.

Charlie Chaplin, the tiny comic actor with his little black moustache, walking cane and waddling walk was a major star, and Chaplin - The Charlie Chaplin Story featuring UK celebrity stars and a full actor-musician cast will pay due homage at Malvern’s Forum Theatre on Friday, June 10.

It’s a heart-warming and powerful story told through the eyes of a young boy on his journey through the dark streets of Victorian Vaudeville London to the glitz of early Hollywood.

This story follows Chaplin - who is played by Bryan Hodgson - through his early career, showbiz ambitions and often-fractious relationship with his mother, family and his first love. It promises to be a story too fascinating to be missed!

The cast also includes Steven Arnold, best known for his long term ‘butcher’s son’ character Ashley Peacock in Coronation Street, Nicole Faraday (Bad Girls and Emmerdale) as Charlie’s mother Hannah Chaplin, Helena Gullan (Once - London’s West End) and also a full cast of talented actor-musicians whose combined experience includes the following West End shows... Buddy, Dreamboats and Petticoats, Return To The Forbidden Planet, Jersey Boys and The Commitments.

The creative team include the multi-award winning writer Stuart Price and No1 hit-single writer Jake Field as composer.  The company - Maple Tree Entertainment - is responsible for the smash-hit West End show The Simon & Garfunkel Story.