Eric Potts
Actor/Writer/Director
NEWS
"Aladdin" - Opera House, Manchester - 2009/10
Eric is pleased to announce that he will be appearing as Widow Twankey - his 4th year on the trot -in Aladdin at the beautiful Opera House in Manchester. The show will be produced by First Family Entertainment with whom Eric has appeared since the company's formation in 2005. Eric is also writing and directing the show which will use the same stunning sets and costumes as the production at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking in which Eric appeared last season. The wonderful wardrobe staff at First Family are, however, working on a few new outfits for Eric but he won't spoil any surprises by letting any prospective audience members know what they are! It promises to be a fantastic evening of festive entertainment with great music, loads of laughs and a few panto surprises!!
Eric will be starring alongside fellow Scot and current Coronation Street bad boy - Gray O'Brien - famous for his portrayal of murderer Tony Gordon and former Hollyoaks actor and "Dancing on Ice" contestant, Chris Fountain. The show will also feature comedian Mike Mclean - Richard & Judy's roving reporter, and local lass Sue Devaney, best known for her appearances in Casualty and Dinnerladies. The Emperor of China will be played by Keith Ladd and the Genie of the Lamp by Joe Speare. Completing the line-up is Elouise Irving who will be playing Princess Jasmine with whom Eric has appeared in panto the last two years. The show runs from Dec 5th 2009 until Jan 3rd 2010. 
Watch this space for more casting/production updates in the weeks to come.
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"Twelfth Night" - Stafford Castle - June 25th - July 11th
Eric had the most wonderful time appearing as Sir Toby Belch in an open air production of "Twelfth Night" at Stafford Castle as part of the 2009 Stafford Festival. The show was directed by Pete Rowe, (Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich) with musical direction by Greg Palmer. Eric has worked with both 
Pete and Greg on several occassions. As an actor/musician production Eric loved getting his brand-new getting his drum kit out and playing the sixties music which was used in this production. It truly was a great show in a wonderful setting.
Use the link below to access the Stafford Festival site for information.
www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk
Springhill Hospice "Junior Voices for Hospice" Concert.
Eric was truly delighted to be compereing this wonderful concert again this year. Held on the evening of Sun 14th June at the Gracie Field's Theatre in Rochdale this proved to be a wonderful evening of music from choirs and musicians drawn from many of the town's primary schools. This year's event was a total sell-out and a great success enjoyed by all who attended and those who took part. This year's theme was "Carnival" and turned out to be a lively, fun-filled event to raise much needed funds for this wonderful facility. Use the link below to access the Springhill Hospice website for more info or to donate.
"Confessions of an Opium Eater"
Eric has recently completed recording several roles in this new production for BBC Radio. Originally written by Thomas De Quincy, the piece has been dramatised for radio by Lavinia Murray and was produced at the BBC Radio Studios in Manchester by Gary Brown. The play will be transmitted on Sunday 28th June 2009 and repeated on 4th July 2009.
Pantomime Writing for the 2009/10 season.
Although barely into spring, Eric is delighted to confirm that he will be writing the following pantomime scripts for the still distant festive season:
"Peter Pan" - - - - Theatre Royal, Brighton. Directed by Fenton Gray.
"Peter Pan" - - - - Empire Theatre, Liverpool.
"Peter Pan" - - - - Empire Theatre, Sunderland.
"Cinderella" - - - New Victoria Theatre, Woking.
"Cinderella" - - - Milton Keynes Theatre.
"Snow White" - - The Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol.
"Snow White"- - The Richmond Theatre.
"Aladdin"- - - - - The Opera House, Manchester.
"Aladdin" - - - - - The New Wimbledon Theatre. 
"Dick Whittington - - The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.
"Mother Goose" - - - The Coliseum Theatre, Oldham.
Directed by Kevin Shaw.
"Sleeping Beauty" - - - The Churchill Theatre, Bromley.
Co-written with George Wood who also directs.
Further casting/production details will follow.
Below are archived news items from the second half of 2008 which will remain on this page only for the next few weeks.
"The Good Soldier Svejk"
Eric has recently completed recording several roles in a major new radio adaptation of this famous novel by Jaroslav Hasek. It was recorded at the BBC Radio studios in Manchester and broadcast later this year on BBC Radio 4. It has been adapted for radio by Christopher Reason and was directed by Gary Brown.
"My Sp
y Family"
Eric has recently completed filming on the latest series of this show for Boomerang TV to be shown on the Cartoon Network later this year. He was playing the role of Eric Kent, local baker and amateur film-maker producing a film about local wildlife. Eric was filming at Yorkshire TV studios in Leeds in the middle of September. The show was produced for Kindle Entertainment by Bernard Krichefski and directed by Dominic MacDonald. "Julia's Banjo" Eric has been filming the lead role of "Barry" in
this exciting
new film project from Liverpool-based Pulse Records & Productions. It follows the story of Barry's quest to find the missing "Holy Grail of Pop" - Julia's Banjo - the instrument belonging to John Lennon's mother on which he first learned to play music. Having gone missing shortly after his mother's death it is believed that John Lennon hid the banjo away, never to be seen again. With an excellent script by Rob Fennah and Helen Jones and being directed by respected film and television director, Neil Alderton, this is sure to be a movie not to be missed. The movie is being shot in and around Liverpool during July 2008 featuring some of the city's most famous and iconic locations. Watch this space for further developments regarding the films release. Photographs from the shoot are now in Gallery 2.
"Dear Green Place"
Eric has recently completed filming on the second series of the Bafta Award winning sitcom -"Dear Green Place". Made by multi award winning production company - "EffinGee Productions" run by Greg Hemphill and Ford Kiernan, the show is set in the parks of Glasgow and follows the lives of the people who keep them looking 
perfect for the people of the city. Eric was filming in Glasgow between July 14th and August 19th, playing the president of a local bowling club. The show is screened on BBC Scotland.
"Brassed Off" - Coliseum Theatre, Oldham. .JPG)
Eric had a wonderful time playing the part of "Danny" - the band conductor in the production of "Brassed Off" at one of his favourite theatres - the Oldham Coliseum. The production ran from Thursday September 4th until Sat September 27th. It was directed the the theatre's Chief Executive and Artistic Director - Kevin Shaw with whom Eric has worked on many projects in the past. The production featured the talents of four local brass bands playing at selected performances during the run. Further details can be found through the link below:
Reviews:
"Leading the cast is Eric Potts as band leader Danny whose passion for music and the future of the band is evident from the outset. His relationship with his son Phil, played superbly by Stuart Wade, is beautifully portrayed and the moment when Phil hits rock bottom and Danny gives simple comfort is tremendously moving."
"Coliseum veteran, popular Eric Potts gives a powerful performance as Danny, the passionate conductor of the Grimley Brass Band."
"Coliseum favourite, Eric Potts is in fine form and actually looks like he can conduct!"