Bat call for Andy

Sep 13 2021 | By More

Andy Gray to be remembered in lights

Edinburgh King’s favourite Andy Gray is to be remembered in lights tonight, Monday 13 September 2021, on what would have been his 62nd birthday.

From 6pm to midnight, the facade of the King’s Theatre will be bathed in purple light, and the bat-call symbol projected across it, in a suitably up-front commemoration of the panto star who died in January from Covid.

When Andy returned to panto rehearsals the cast arranged a surprise visit from Edinburgh’s Batman in his Batmobile. Pic Neil Hanna

The colour purple is in recognition of Andy’s famous ‘purple pinky’ – his own tribute to his mother who always had the little fingernail on her left hand painted purple, her favourite colour. The bat symbol is to remember Andy’s life-long obsession with Batman and comic books.

Clare Gray, Andy’s daughter said: “To have dad’s memory on his birthday to be up in lights at the King’s means so much to his family and friends, another sign of how much my dad meant to everyone at the King’s as well as the panto audience.”

The actress, who has appeared in several King’s pantos herself and will be in this year’s Sleeping Beauty added: “We are so very touched. And to be there this panto season treading the boards of the King’s is such a special thing for me. I know my dad will be watching on from the wings.”

Capital Theatres Technical Team

Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatres said: “Andy was a huge part of the Capital Theatres family. His comic brilliance, professionalism, fun and kindness made him a wonderful colleague as well as a true star for our panto audiences. We miss him greatly and our thoughts and best wishes remain with his family.

“It’s bittersweet as we make plans for this year’s panto, Sleeping Beauty, without Andy, but his legacy of smiles and laughter live on through his co-stars as they return to our stage, and most particularly his daughter Clare who joins the cast this year.”

She added: “This lovely tribute has been planned and executed by Capital Theatres Technical Team who, like anyone who worked with him, were keen to celebrate the great man.”

On February first this year, the King’s facade was adorned in gobos of the bat symbol ahead of Andy’s funeral – King’s Bat Call for Andy

All Edinburgh Theatre’s tribute to Andy is here: Remembering Andy Gray.

ENDS

Tags: , , , ,

Comments are closed.