Eric Morcambe is reborn in a biographical play about the comedian's life
If you’re dating in London and the surrounding areas, take you date to the theatre to see Morecambe, a biographical play celebrating the comedians life.
For an entire generation the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show was the highlight of Christmas Day. In 1977 they had 28 million viewers – half of the UK population watching at the same time.
Eric Morecambe died at the age of fifty-eight in 1984, but in the twenty five years since his untimely final curtain, his popularity has not waned. With numerous tribute programmes, TV re-runs and DVD releases, his work as one half of Britain’s most popular double act ever, has been kept alive and introduced to a whole new generation of fans.
Now the first biographical play about Eric Morecambe opens at The Duchess theatre in December for a strictly limited run starring Bob Golding as Eric Morecambe, and directed by Guy Masterton. The play is a fictional account, inspired by Morecambe’s life and whilst many of the events and characters described in the play are real, the story and words are those imagined by the playwright.
The play came about after Golding’s sell out Edinburgh Festival run, where he did a moving and gloriously funny portrait of the ‘affectionate lad with the funny bones’ – the man born to be an entertainer. Tim Whitnall has created a deliriously funny memorial that swallows up everything from Morecambe Pier to Andre Previn and Glenda Jackson, that will leave the audience crying tears of laughter at the man who ‘brought us the sunshine’.
Golding has won an army of admirers. These include some of the country’s favourite comedians who have been bowled over by the actor’s extraordinary likeness to the man himself, many of whom were Eric’s contemporaries and friends. Ronnie Corbett has described Bob Golding portrayal of Eric Morecambe as; “Spectacularly wonderful; Golding has hit the bullseye with this stunning portrayal of Eric.” Whilst Nicholas Parsons said; “Eric is brought to life again with all his humour and charm. Quite brilliant.”
Tickets cost between £20 and £37.50 and runs at the Duchess Theatre from 9th December 2009 until 17th January 2010. You can buy tickets from the box office on 0207 492 1602.