Baton passes at Gang Show
Andy Thomson appointed to pit
The Edinburgh Gang Show has announced that Musical Director John Duncan is retiring from the show after 22 years of leading the company from the pit.
Duncan has been involved with the gang show for the last 30 years, but has decided to retire this year. He will be succeeded by assistant MD Andy Thomson, who will be in the pit for this year’s show.
Andy Thomson, new Musical Director of the Edinburgh Gang Show with director Andy Johnston, Director. Photo EGS
Thomson is a well-known face in Edinburgh’s amateur musical theatre scene, having worked with the likes of Southern Light, LYAMC and Showcase. He has a degree in piano accompaniment and vocal studies from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – when it was the RSAMD.
Thomson said: “It is an honour and privilege to be appointed as only the ninth Musical Director in the history of the Edinburgh Gang Show. It will be an extremely enjoyable job and I am looking forward immensely to the challenge of the weeks ahead.”
Having been assistant MD for the last 14 years, Thomson is very familiar with the working of the show’s director, Andy Johnson, who is widely credited with breathing new life into the old format when he joined John Duncan in leading the show back in 2003.
experience
Speaking of Andy Thomson’s appointment to MD, Johnston said: “It is a huge pleasure to welcome Andy T to this position – he brings a wealth of experience to the role having been an integral part of the Production Team since 1999. His commitment to Gang Show is unquestionable and he is genuinely one of my ‘go to guys’ when it comes to any show.
Bryan McCaffrey, new junior gang MD with direcrtor Andy Johnston. Photo: EGS
“I’m also very pleased that Andy will be assisted at Main Gang rehearsals by Ian Sutherland and at Junior Gang by Bryan McCaffrey. This is a hugely talented team of musicians and we’re very lucky to have them all.”
This year’s Edinburgh Gang Show takes place Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 November at the King’s Theatre.
All Edinburgh Theatre sends best wishes to John Duncan, who has been a constant powerhouse to the Gang for as long as we have been reviewing the show.
Listing
Edinburgh Gang Show 2016
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 November 2016
Evenings 7pm; Matinee Sat 2:15pm
Tickets from www.edtheatres.com/gangshow
ENDS
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