He started work in the family hotel, though also participating in amateur theatrical productions in Scarborough. He was permitted by his family to become a drama student at RADA in 1925, where actor Claude Rains was one of his teachers. Laughton made his first professional appearance on 28 April 1926 at the Barnes Theatre, as Osip in the comedy The Government Inspector, in which he also appeared at London's Gaiety Theatre in May. He impressed audiences with his talent and had classical roles in two Chekov plays, The Cherry Orchard and The Three Sisters. Laughton played the lead role as Harry Hegan in the world premiere of Seán O'Casey's The Silver Tassie in 1928 in London. He played the title roles in Arnold Bennett's Mr Prohack (Elsa Lanchester was also in the cast) and as Samuel Pickwick in Mr. Pickwick at the Theatre Royal (1928–29) in London.
He started work in the family hotel though also participating in amateur theatrical productions in Scarborough He was permitted by his family to become a drama student at RADA in 1925 where actor Claude Rains was one of his teachers Laughton made his first professional appearance on 28 April 1926 at the Barnes Theatre as Osip in the comedy The Government Inspector in which he also appeared at London's Gaiety Theatre in May He impressed audiences with his talent and had classical roles in two Chekov plays The Cherry Orchard and The Three Sisters Laughton played the lead role as Harry Hegan in the world premiere of Seán O'Casey's The Silver Tassie in 1928 in London He played the title roles in Arnold Bennett's Mr Prohack (Elsa Lanchester was also in the cast) and as Samuel Pickwick in Mr Pickwick at the Theatre Royal (1928–29) in London