CHAPLIN to Run 30 July - 26 August at Edinburgh Fringe

Say "Charlie Chaplin" and the world thinks of his unforgettable character - the little tramp with the big shoes, hat, cane and moustache. But who was the man behind the distinguishable attributes? The story of Charles Chaplin is as great as the stories he gave life to upon the silver screen. He grew up in poor circumstances in the London slums at the turn of the 1900s, with hard work and considerable talent he took the world into the palm of his hands and became one of the most cherished screen stars ever.

His life is the classic story of someone who has nothing but wins everything. But it is also the story of someone who is forced to put it all on the line. This is a story of what fame and fortune cannot buy... The longing and desire for a love and home of his own. Almost a hundred years after his breakthrough and thirty-five years after his death, Ace Production brings his life story to the stage directed by seasoned director Sven Sid. Chaplin is a show consisting of equal parts of joy and sorrow, of hilarious humour, beautifully melancholic and full of passionate politics.

Chaplin is produced by Ace Production who set up the From Start to Finnish initiative in 2011. Since the inauguration of this international exchange initiative the company has produced over ten productions for The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and having won prestigious awards: Continuous Growth (2012) won the prestigious Fringe First Award and The Overcoat (2011) Billy Mack won Best Actor at The Stage Awards - the first time the award has been one twice by one individual actor.

Building on the phenomenal interest in Scandinavian film and television From Start to Finnish taps into Finland's astonishing theatrical tradition by taking successful Finnish plays, translating them into English and re-imagining them with entirely British casts in British settings. Finland is home to more theatres per-capita than almost anywhere else in the world.

From Start to Finnish has been developed by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland and the Pleasance Theatre with the assistance of and ACE Production, Finland.

Casting for Chaplin will be announced at a later date.

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