CHAPLIN was the first British Superstar of Hollywood, and audiences at Malvern will discover why.

The new musical, "Chaplin - The Charlie Chaplin Story" will entertain a Festival Theatre audience on Friday, June 10, from 7.45pm.

A spokesman said, Steven Arnold, best know for his long term “butcher’s son” character ‘Ashley Peacock’ in Coronation Street, stars as Charlie Chaplin’s brother in this heart-warming and hilarious musical about the first true British icon of cinema.

"Steven is joined onstage by Nicole Faraday, from Bad Girls and Emmerdale and a cast of six West End actor-musicians who play over 20 instruments live onstage."

The spokesman added: "This powerful musical tale weaves through Chaplin’s modest and troubled childhood growing up in the gutters of Victorian London. It focuses on Chaplin’s relationship with his mother who, after being admitted to an asylum, was forced to put her sons into the workhouse.

"It moves through Chaplin’s early showbiz career on the Vaudeville stage, through the primitive years of early Hollywood and finishes with Chaplin discovering his big breakthrough film which made him a household name - ‘The Kid’. This is an untold story too fascinating to miss."

The creative team include the multi-award winning writer Stuart Price and No1 hit-single writer Jake Field as composer.

Tickets and further details on, 01684 892277.