Gray pulls out of Panto

Illness forces Andy Gray to withdraw from King’s panto

Andy Gray has announced that he will no longer be able to perform in Beauty and the Beast, this year’s pantomime at Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre, on medical grounds.

However he has promised his fans that he will be back the following year, as he has been advised by his doctors not to go back to work after the operation which took him out of his Edinburgh Fringe show back in August (Junkies cancelled). His role in River City also had to be re-written as it had been about to start shooting after a summer break.

Andy Gray as Buttons in last year’s panto – Cinderella. Pic: Douglas Robertson

Andy was due to play the role of Hector Potty in Beauty and the Beast, opposite panto pals Allan Stewart as Mrs Potty and Grant Stott as Flash Boaby, when the production opens at the King’s on Saturday 1 December.

Commenting on his withdrawal Andy Gray said: “It is with great sadness that I’ll leave the boys, and the incredible pantomime family at the King’s Theatre, to it for this year while I rest up at home in my Batman pyjamas.

“My doctors have advised that it is too soon to undertake a stage role, especially one opposite those dafties Allan and Grant. I’ll miss them all, but will be back out there in next year’s pantomime and look forward to it already.”



Gray’s decision has the full support of the theatre and the pantomime producers, according to a joint statement by Duncan Hendry, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, which manages the King’s Theatre Edinburgh, and Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment, who produce the King’s pantomime.

They say: “We fully support Andy’s decision to take some time away to rest, and we all wish him a speedy recovery so that he can get back to what he does best; causing mayhem on stage at the King’s, right where he belongs.

“The show must, however, go on, and with Andy’s full support Allan and Grant will continue at the helm of another fantastic show for Edinburgh audiences to enjoy, as they do every year.”

No announcement has been made concerning the recasting of Hector Potty, although Allan Stewart and Grant Stott will continue in their roles. Gillian Parkhouse who took the title role of last year’s pantomime, Cinderella, returns as Belle, with Daniel Cullen as Dougal, Jacqueline Hughes as the Enchantress and Chris Cowley as the Beast.

Direction will be by Ed Curtis.

All Edinburgh Theatre sends Andy Gray all the very best for as quick a recovery as possible.

Listing:

Beauty and the Beast
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ.
Sat 1 December 2018 to Sun 20 January 2019
No shows: Dec 20 & 25, Jan 1.
Evenings Tue – Sat: 7pm; Matinees (not Dec 6, 12 or Jan 11, 17 &18 ): 2pm. Sundays & Mon 24, Mon 31: 1pm & 5pm.

ENDS

Tags: Allan Stewart, Andy Gray, Beauty and the Beast, Duncan Hendry, Grant Stott, King, King's Theatre, News, pantomime, Pantomime 2018