The Kid

The lush sounds of a live orchestra combine with Charlie Chaplin’s heartwarming comedy to open the first Silents by the Sea festival.

The films

Charlie Chaplin’s loveable tramp rescues an orphan from the street and together they cause delightful mayhem. Drawing on Chaplin’s own experience of poverty and life on the rundown London streets of his youth, The Kid is the first feature-length appearance of Chaplin’s iconic tramp character and made an international star of seven-year-old Jackie Coogan.

Two of Chaplin’s short slapstick comedies will start the evening off, and broadcaster and composer Neil Brand will introduce all the films.

The music

Making its debut, the sixteen-strong Northern Silents Sinfonia will play Chaplin’s own score for The Kid, under the musical direction of Lancashire-born conductor Helen Harrison. Pianist Neil Brand will improvise piano accompaniments to the short films.

By the Sea, 1915, USA, 15 mins

The Cure, 1917, USA, 25mins

The Kid, 1921, USA, 60 mins

Film Ratings: U

The Kid © Roy Export S.A.S.

Music for The Kid © Roy Export Company Ltd, and Bourne Co. All rights reserved.

Doors 7pm, show starts 7.30pm

Part of Silents by the Sea 2024. Great value festival passes can be booked here.