ONE of the most iconic characters in children’s literature will wiggle his way to Ellesmere Port next weekend in celebration of a big birthday.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show will play two performances at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on Saturday, October 12 at 11am and 1.30pm as part of a UK Tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the book.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 enchanting puppets during a magical 60-minute show that faithfully adapts four of Eric Carle’s best loved books for the stage.

The 50th anniversary production will feature a brand-new line-up of stories for 2019; Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, the return of The Very Lonely Firefly and, of course, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Eric Carle’s books have captivated generations of readers with their iconic hand-painted illustrations and distinctively simple stories, introducing millions of children to a bigger, brighter world, and to their first experience of reading itself.

He has illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 132 million copies of his books have sold around the world.

His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has delighted millions of children all over the world, and in 2019 celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Since it was first published in 1969 it has been translated into 62 languages and sold over 43 million copies, remaining one of the top 10 bestselling children’s books of all time.

Eric said: “I am delighted that the 50th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be celebrated with such an enchanting production, and that my friends in the UK will be able to share the same enjoyment I felt when seeing my characters come to life on stage.”

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is adapted for the stage by director Jonathan Rockefeller, whose production sees four master puppeteers weave their way through Eric Carle’s stories, bringing to life 75 magical puppets.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show first premiered in Australia in 2015 before opening in New York at the Acorn Theatre in January 2016.

The New York production broke box office records and attracted celebrities with families including Chelsea Clinton, Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris and Diane Sawyer. The show had its West End premiere at the Ambassadors Theatre in December 2016.