Talk about a wonderful family story!

Local writer Val Hayward grew up surrounded by theatre talent: A great grandmother, a pianist in music halls and for silent movies; grandparents who loved singing and dancing and went to school in Lambeth, with the great Charlie Chaplin.

And now Val’s own talented two granddaughters Ellen and Polly join the fabulous Niton Playbox, a group of young actors aged between eight and 14, to perform this true and cleverly written family story on stage.

Old Charlie, who has been such a worldwide success, opens the play, taking us back to his childhood.

In the difficulties of old London Town we meet the Babington kids, Daisy and her brothers, surviving a father who deserts them, a mother who can’t cope, a little baby brother crying out for food, and no income for rent or food.

Their school friend in Lambeth is young Charlie Chaplin. His family is broke too. Life is really hard even in school, but they try to keep cheerful.

Can all these kids perform at the Palace of Varieties Music Hall and earn something?

The Music Hall chairman is certainly delighted by them!

We follow how all the kids grow up, with some of these young actors playing two characters, and like George Sales, singing so well.

What a story! And what a chance to act and sing and dance! And they all did - brilliantly.

Val’s daughter, Rosie Hayward, and son-in-law Tony Careless, provided magic music, and Pete Back’s sound levels and lighting set up were really effective, as were the staging, props and projection.

Ellen Careless, Val’s granddaughter, as well as playing Daisy, directed and choreographed the production.

Niton Parish Hall is a super venue with a good-sized stage, and what these talented young people in The Niton Playbox are learning here about theatre, stage production, acting and music is just pure gold.

The play cleverly includes many recognisable old songs – The Lambeth Walk, Oh I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside, Champagne Charlie and now he is such a world stage and cinematic star, Charlie, played by Oliver Back, sings his own famous song Smile.

Hearing all the songs being sung so beautifully and enthusiastically, watching such really good acting and dancing, with such excellent choreography and staging, and with the audience enchanted and singing along too, the evening was absolutely delicious.

Smile? It certainly made us all smile!