The Bats celebrate 50 years with new gags
EDDIE ECKSTEIN (Awesome-Eddie), Paul Ditchfield (Incredi–Paul), Pete Clifford (S-Pete-tacular), and Derek Gordon (Derek-table) will soon be at a theatre near you. Yes The Bats, who began in the 1960’s and played through the decades both here and internationally are celebrating their Golden Jubilee this year – that’s 50’s years as The Bats!
The music veterans have a run at Theatre on the Bay from Monday to April 18 at 8pm. They hope to have nostalgic fans back rocking on their feet, and have them screaming with laughter and shouting for more. The foursome now return with a show, dubbed bigger and better than before. And are about to take punters on a fabulous trip down memory lane, as well as into the future.
Armed with brand new material, some new gags, and the energy of teenagers, they will try their best not disappoint. What makes this show different is that these guys are not trying to be The Bats in the sixties, although they are in their sixties (and seventies).
Their overall definition: “Bat – noun – Eddie, Paul, Pete, Derek [not to be confused with beetles], mainly nocturnal mammal [when not asleep] capable of sustained flight [50 years….. interminable… when inflated]. Bats -verb – to behave in an eccentric, bizarre manner [ no comment]”.
The line-up onstage will be Eddie Eckstein on drum and vocals and stand-up comedy, Pete Clifford on lead guitar, bass guitar and vocals, Paul Ditchfield on keyboard, bass and vocals and Derek Gordon on bass, rhythm guitar, keyboard and vocals.
Another celebration here for Theatre on the Bay with this showcase is that Eckstein was the original South African Sey- mour on Saturday August 18 1984 in Little Shop of Horrors, also presented by Pieter Toerien, and now soon to be performing the same role by local funny man – Alan Committie in his very first musical.
Upcoming shows at the venue include Little from April 24 to June 6, from une 10 to 27 and
from June 30 to July 12.