King’s Panto Casting Update

The King’s Theatre Edinburgh today announces that Andy Gray will no longer be appearing in this year’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, on medical grounds. Andy was due to play the role of Hector Potty opposite his pantomime pals Allan Stewart and Grant Stott 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.”

In a joint statement Duncan Hendry, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, that manages the King’s Theatre Edinburgh, and Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer who produce the King’s pantomime said, “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.”

Allan and Grant will continue in their roles as Mrs Potty and Flash Boaby respectively, joined by Gillian Parkhouse as Belle with Daniel Cullen as Dougal, Jacqueline Hughes as the Enchantress and Chris Cowley as the Beast. Beauty and the Beast, will once again be directed by Ed Curtis.

www.capitaltheatres.com/beautyandbeast

Beauty and the Beast opens on Saturday 1 December 2018 and runs until Sunday 20 January 2019