BRINGING SUNSHINE ACROSS THE UK
Photo: Paul Coltas
Critically acclaimed and Olivier Award-nominated for their uncanny portrayal of the legendary comedy duo, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, IAN ASHPITEL & JONTY STEPHENS as ‘ERIC & ERN’ is touring the UK from Tuesday 5 October, 2021 (full tour dates attached).
A festive version of the show, IAN ASHPITEL & JONTY STEPHENS as ERIC & ERN AT CHRISTMAS, will play Plymouth Theatre Royal on 27 November and a week-long season at The Lowry in Salford, 6 – 12 December.
Crammed full of renditions of those famous comedy sketches, and coupled with contemporary references in their unique style, the show evokes memories of times when whole families would huddle around the telly on Sunday evenings to share in the much-loved antics of Britain’s national treasures.
As seen on BBC One’s The One Show and ITV1’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show, the performances contain some of the first new writing in the style of Morecambe & Wise material in over thirty years.
Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens have been performing and writing as Eric and Ern for more than five years. The research into their subjects is there for all to see in their staggeringly accurate portrayal of the most successful and much loved British comedy duo of all time. The performers themselves have a wonderful relationship with the families and estates of Morecambe & Wise – with all scripts given the families’ seal of approval before being performed.
“I have been fascinated with Eric Morecambe for as long as I can remember,” says Jonty. “I took on his persona at school and it never really left me. He was the funniest and loveliest of men. We both feel it’s a privilege to play Eric and Ernie and some people have said it’s like we’re channeling them – some nights it does feel like that.”
Ian said: “We do treasure the relationship we have with each other – as did Eric and Ernie – and I think it’s obvious that we love performing the comedy of Morecambe and Wise.”
Ian and Jonty met at drama school over 30 years ago and continued their friendship playing golf together at The Stage Golf Society in Richmond. When Jonty was asked to play Eric at a charity show he knew that with his short fat hairy legs Ian would be the perfect Ernie Wise. Having brought the house down the two then wrote some ‘bespoke’ material for their friends at the golf club.
It was these performances which set them off on an incredible journey, with rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, an acclaimed West End season at the Vaudeville Theatre, and an Olivier Award nomination for ‘the play wot we wrote’ – ‘Eric and Little Ern’.
Jonty said: “More importantly, the audiences love watching it – which is always handy. But it’s more than just watching a comedy show – there’s a real emotional connection, because we all remember watching it together. The audience reaction has been amazing.
Creative team:
- Director: Daniel Clarkson
- Choreographer: Nicola Keen
- Set Design: Louie Whitemore
- Lighting Design: Zoe Spurr
- Marketing: Karen Benstead
- Producers: Ian Ashpitel, Jonty Stephens, Martin Clarkson
- Associate Producer: Joshua Beaumont
“I never thought I’d See Morecambe and Wise live. I think I just have!” Ben Elton
“Wonderfully affectionate performances. They were both absolutely brilliant” Lord Grade, former agent to Morecambe and Wise, who negotiated the duo’s move from ATV to BBC2 in 1968
RADLETT – Radlett Centre
Tuesday 5 October at 7.30pm
01923 859 291 radlettcentre.co.uk
PORTSMOUTH – Guildhall
Wednesday 6 October at 7.00pm
023 9387 0200 portsmouthguildhall.org.uk
CRAWLEY – Hawth Theatre
Thursday 7 October at 7.30pm
01293 553636 hawth.co.uk
YEOVIL – Octagon
Friday 8 October at 7.30pm
01935 422884 octagon-theatre.co.uk
HAYES – Beck Theatre
Tuesday 12 October at 7.30pm
0343 310 0044 becktheatre.org.uk
PETERBOROUGH – New Theatre
Wednesday 13 October at 7.30pm newtheatre-peterborough.com
SCARBOROUGH – Scarborough Spa
Thursday 14 October at 7.30pm
01723 821 888 scarboroughspa.co.uk
CROMER – Cromer Pier, North Norfolk
Saturday 16 October at 8pm
01263 512495 cromerpier.co.uk
LINCOLN – New Theatre Royal
Tuesday 19 October at 7.30pm
newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk 01522 519999
SALE – Waterside Arts
Friday 22 October at 7.30pm
0161 912 5616 watersidearts.org
CHESTERFIELD – Pomegranate Theatre
Saturday 23 October at 2.30pm & 7.30pm
01246 345222 chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk
BARROW-IN-FURNESS – The Forum
Sunday 24 October at 7.30pm
01229 820000 theforumbarrow.co.uk
CREWE – Lyceum
Monday 25 & Tuesday 26 October at 7.30pm
crewelyceum.co.uk
SCUNTHORPE – The Baths Hall
Wednesday 27 October at 7.30pm
scunthorpetheatres.co.uk
LEAMINGTON SPA – Royal Spa Centre
Friday 29 October at 7.30pm
01926 334418 warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre
LICHFIELD – Lichfield Garrick
Thursday 4 November at 2.30pm & 7.30pm
lichfieldgarrick.com 01543 412121
BLACKBURN – King George’s Hall
Friday 5 November at 7:30pm
01254 582579 bwdvenues.com
EDINBURGH – Festival Theatre
Monday 15 November at 7.30pm
0131 529 6000 capitaltheatres.com
ABERDEEN – Tivoli
Tuesday 16 November at 7.30pm
01224 641122 thetivolitheatre.com
LIVERPOOL – Everyman Theatre
Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 November at 7.30pm
0151 709 4776 everymanplayhouse.com
IAN ASHPITEL & JONTY STEPHENS as ERIC & ERN AT CHRISTMAS
PLYMOUTH – Theatre Royal
Saturday 27 November at 2.30pm & 7.30pm
01752 267222 theatreroyal.com
SALFORD – The Lowry
Monday 6 – Sunday 12 December 6, 7, 8, 9 at 8pm, 10, 11, 12 at 5pm & 8pm
0343 208 6000 thelowry.com
WEBSITE: www.ericandlittleern.co.uk
SOCIAL MEDIA:
- Twitter: @eric_ern
- Facebook: EricandLittleErn
- Instagram: ericandlittleern