Young performer Charlie Chaplin

a teenage chaplin in play sherlock holmes, in appeared between 1903 , 1906

between time in poor schools , mother succumbing mental illness, chaplin began perform on stage. later recalled making first amateur appearance @ age of 5 years, when took on hannah 1 night in aldershot. isolated occurrence, time 9 chaplin had, mother s encouragement, grown interested in performing. later wrote: [she] imbued me feeling had sort of talent . through father s connections, chaplin became member of 8 lancashire lads clog-dancing troupe, whom toured english music halls throughout 1899 , 1900. chaplin worked hard, , act popular audiences, not satisfied dancing , wished form comedy act.

in years chaplin touring 8 lancashire lads, mother ensured still attended school but, age 13, had abandoned education. supported himself range of jobs, while nursing ambition become actor. @ 14, shortly after mother s relapse, registered theatrical agency in london s west end. manager sensed potential in chaplin, promptly given first role newsboy in harry arthur saintsbury s jim, romance of cockayne. opened in july 1903, show unsuccessful , closed after 2 weeks. chaplin s comic performance, however, singled out praise in many of reviews.

saintsbury secured role chaplin in charles frohman s production of sherlock holmes, played billy pageboy in 3 nationwide tours. performance received called london play role alongside william gillette, original holmes. tidings heaven , chaplin recalled. @ 16 years old, chaplin starred in play s west end production @ duke of york s theatre october december 1905. completed 1 final tour of sherlock holmes in 1906, before leaving play after more two-and-a-half years.

cite error: there <ref group=note> tags on page, references not show without {{reflist|group=note}} template (see page).