Newcastle-under-Lyme “hero” Eric, who has been entertaining audiences at the New Vic Theatre for a quarter of a century with his “unique” blend of comedy and live music, is to celebrate the 25th anniversary with two shows.
David Graham Productions, which is responsible for the Staffordshire star, will stage Strictly Eric and Eric’s Full Monty in 2024—the most popular shows as voted for by audiences.
First performed in 2017, Strictly Eric involves Eric and hapless sidekick Gordon employed to help in the 1969 World Ballroom Championships at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. It will take to the New Vic stage from Monday 22 July until Saturday 3 August.
Eric’s Full Monty follows Eric’s dilemma as partner Bev devises a get-rich-quick scheme: their own version of the Chippendales! Eric originally dismisses the idea as nonsense, but when Bev surrounds herself with four hunky young men, he decides he wants in. It will run from Monday 25 November until Tuesday 10 December.
Before the revivals, David Graham Productions will throw a series of concerts where Eric and friends will perform a host of ’60s hits from Tuesday 14 until Saturday 18 May.
Creator of the Eric productions David Graham said, “when Eric first appeared on stage at the New Vic in 1999 with his nephew Dennis trying to make a quick buck out of staging a pop festival in Itchycoo Park, who would have thought that 25 years later our eponymous hero would still be entertaining 5,000 people twice a year with a constantly changing storyline and a plethora of ‘60s hits? Not me, for one!
“For the 25th anniversary, I wanted to concentrate mostly on the ‘60s musical glue which has held this show together through the almost 600 performances there’ve been so far. So the shows will be mostly music—but there’s bound to be a bit of humour in there somewhere! However, for a 25th anniversary, that show has to be a bit special, and it will be.”