From the Gloucestershire Echo, 22 January 2010.

A tribute show to comedy legend Eric Morecambe went down a storm at the venue where he made his final appearance.

Eric, half of double act Morecambe and Wise, died in 1984 after collapsing on stage at The Roses theatre in Tewkesbury.

Twenty six years later, he returned in the form of actor Bob Golding. The 39-year-old recreated the sort of things Eric used to say and do, during an emotional one-man show.

The 370 people in the packed auditorium, including Eric’s daughter Gail, lapped it up.

Theatre spokeswoman Susie Peirce (corr)  said: “It was a spectacular evening and one which was emotionally charged for both the actor and the audience.

“The play was handled with respect, reverence and appreciation for one of our greatest comedy legends and received rapturous applause along with a standing ovation.”

Retired Tewkesbury doctor Andrew Crowther was in the sell-out audience. He was one of three audience members who had been at The Roses on the night Eric had his fatal heart attack.

After watching Bob’s 90-minute show, he said: “It was very enjoyable and cleverly done. He’s a brilliant actor.

“Somebody said they had to pinch themselves to realise that it wasn’t Eric Morecambe. It was a very fitting tribute.”

He added that, in a post-show discussion some of the audience stayed on for, Gail said she had viewed it in the same way.

Bob brought his show to The Roses after a successful run in London’s West End. It followed Eric’s life, from humble beginnings as a child-performer on Morecambe Pier to the glamour of international stardom.

He said: “It’s an honour to be playing the role of such a wonderful man and a somewhat poignant experience to be performing at the venue where Eric made his final appearance.”

The performance, called simply Morecambe, raised £6,800, for Eric’s favourite charity – The Lady Taverners. It is the fundraising arm of The Lord’s Taverners which provides specially-adapted minibuses and recreation for youngsters with special needs.

Theatre staff wonder whether Eric’s spirit was present at the event. Legend has it that he returns once a year, in the form of a butterfly that appears on stage.

Bang on cue, on the morning that Morecambe was staged, the technical crew spotted a butterfly high in the rafters.

Robin Jenkins

Photograph courtesy of the Gloucestershire Echo.


Bob Goulding, right, who played Eric, with Taverners, from left to right, Ruth FitzSimons, David Chatham, Sally Orchard and Mike Hill.

 Printable Version

...close