The Sweep and the Apprentice, Sooty

Inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid”, “The Chimney Sweeps: A Family Business” is a piece of family theatre with nostalgic airs that brings back the charms of the Victorian era in Mary Poppins style. It is a silent show choreographed to an original music score, and it includes original jigs, dazzling acrobatics, juggling, humour and a full load of charm.


The idea for this show was ignited a few years ago by a review of another show of hours, in which The Apprentice did a cameo appearance. This is the review, featured in the blog Tales from the South Bank


The image of the chimney sweeps is widely recognised and it brings good humour to those hard times. It also recuperates a traditional circus and vaudeville experience that has been lost in live entertainment nowadays, but an experience that everybody can feel identified with, which is family theatre performed by a father and his child. The show has the special appeal of having a very talented child performer, who shows a very engaging relationship with his father and partner in crime.


Here is an account of the research and creative process of the production, sometimes by The Sweep, sometimes by The Apprentice, Sooty…


Wednesday, 14 March 2018

From Sooty, the Lad

Hello, I am The Apprentice!

 I am ten years old. I have been performing since I was four. I am making a new show with my dad called The Chimney Sweeps and it will be very exciting because I have not made a brand new show before and I can't wait to perform in it. We are also learning a lot of things about the Victorian era. For example, did you know that boy chimney sweeps rubbed salt into their elbows and knees, to toughen the skin? The life of a climbing boy (a chimney sweep boy) was very very hard. They worked in very hard conditions for very little pay and sometimes they would even die while working because they would get stuck up the chimney.
The chimney sweeps had their own festival in May, and the boys would be singing songs and dancing and collecting money in their hats. We want this show to be happy like that festival.
The Apprentice


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