After a limited run at the Curve Theatre in Leicester, Eric and Ern will visit the Lowry before going to the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End and Morecambe’s Winter Gardens.
Stephen told BBC North West Tonight that portraying the much-loved comic duo had been the toughest job the actors had ever faced.
“We have never worked as hard in our career as portraying these geniuses.
“Every little movement, every little gesture, every little wig that Ernie wears – we’ve got to be spot on. And hopefully we are.”
“We do treasure their memory and hopefully the show we do can transport the audience back for that two hours to a time when they were watching Morecambe and Wise.”
They said they paid homeage to some of the comedians’ best-loved sketches.
Stephen said: “I like the sketches when the boys are in their flat sitting at the sofa or in bed together, where Ernie has got the Financial Times and Eric has got the Dandy. It is a perfect picture of the two.”
Ashpitel, who plays Ernie Wise, said the audiences loved to join in with the sketches.
“The audience knows what’s coming – and the more they know – the bigger the laugh.
“Sometimes they say the line before we do,” he added.
The pair said they never get tired of the classic comedy lines.
“We just love it,” said Stephen.