The Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool _320

CELEBRATING the revolutionary spirit of the legendary Liverpool club, Eric’s is the hotly anticipated second new musical produced by the Everyman and Playhouse specially for Capital of Culture year.

Award-winning Liverpool writer Mark Davies Markham follows up his hit musical, Taboo, and the BBC Liverpool Nativity with the story of one man’s fight for survival as he draws on the defiant attitude of his youth, and the inspirational Mathew Street venue.

Eric’s opened in 1976, a musical hothouse where The Clash, The Ramones and The Sex Pistols ignited a creative spark that fired a generation.

West End musical theatre actor Graham Bickley plays lead character Joe, with Liverpool actor Stephen Fletcher playing Joe’s younger self, Joey.

Representations of renowned musical figures such as Ian McCulloch, Julian Cope, Pete Wylie, Pete Burns, Jayne Casey and Holly Johnson appear as, from his hospital bed, Joe remembers his youth spent at Eric’s.

Celebrity Masterchef finalist and well-known television actor Mark Moraghan plays Joe’s step- dad Reg, while Lesley Nicol plays his mum, Eileen.

Eric’s will be directed by LIPA graduate Jamie Lloyd, who has just been appointed associate director at London’s Donmar Warehouse, after residencies at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Royal Court London.

A live band will bring songs from the era to the stage. from artists and bands such as Deaf School, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Iggy Pop, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, The Real Thing, Johnny Cash, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Jim Reeves, and The Mighty Wah!

Eric’s is at the Everyman from September 19 until October 11. Tickets are on sale now, from the box office, on 0151 709 4776.