Champagne Charlie

Christopher Beeching makes a welcome return to Wilton’s with his popular, comic show based on the life and songs of the music hall star George Leybourne, also known as Champagne Charlie

"…an impressive gallery of characters…" The Guardian
"Charlie’s still pure champagne!" The Daily Mail


George Leybourne (1842–1884) was the first British Super Star of the Music Halls, he regularly played up and down the county (including at Wilton's) earning hundreds of pounds and creating music hall classics such as Champagne Charlie and The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze. Accompanied by pianist Paul Knight, with extra musicians on trumpet and trombone, these songs will be brought back to life through an impressive array of characters and costumes.

This special performance is taking place as part of a week long series of events celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the British Music Hall Society.

Christopher Beeching has produced a celebrated biography of Leybourne, The Heaviest of Swells and excerpts from Champagne Charlie have been broadcast on the BBC Radio 2’s Arts Programme and on television, most recently for BBC4 TV’s The Story of Music Hall.

heaviestofswells.com

"A tour de force of talent and entertainment…" Eastbourne Herald
"A story full of life, vigour and poignancy…" Newcastle Chronicle