King’s Panto cancelled

Beauty sleeps on until 2021

The Edinburgh King’s has announced that this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, has been postponed until 2021, with all performances this year cancelled.

All customers who have purchased or reserved tickets will have them automatically transferred to 2021. Capital Theatre’s box office will be in touch with those customers over the coming weeks.

Allan Stewart, Andy Gray, Grant Stott and Jordan Young in the Sleeping Beauty publicity image.

Capital Theatres, which runs the King’s, said in a statement: “In line with the King’s panto producer, Qdos Entertainment’s announcement on Monday 3 August, the uncertainty around ongoing restrictions and maintaining social distancing means that it is not possible for us to open on 28 November 2020 as planned.”

The loss of the pantomime is a blow to audiences and theatre alike. The pantomime accounts for almost 30% of Capital Theatres’ annual income and it has had no source of trading income since it closed its venues due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres said: “The impact of the global pandemic has been devastating on all theatres, and it has become a reality that to keep everyone safe and the organisation secure, mounting a full-scale production without social distancing in the current cycle would be challenging.”

We’ll be back!

The King’s panto regular stars have  expressed their sorrow at the loss of this year’s show.

Panto dame extraordinaire Allan Stewart said: “I can’t imagine a Christmas without a Kings Panto. But in the words of the Terminator …. ‘We’ll be back’”

Comic genius Andy Gray added: “Very sad that we won’t be trying to wake Sleeping Beauty this year…. but it’s been a strange year 2020 for us all hasn’t it? I tell you this – We look forward to seeing you all in 2021! Stay safe… and wash your hands!”

Regular baddie Grant Stott turned philosophical, saying: “Just like everyone who loves our annual panto at The Kings Theatre Edinburgh, I am absolutely gutted at the prospect of no show this year – it will be my first Xmas away from the Kings since 1999.

“However, even baddies can be optimistic and I am already looking forward to staging Sleeping Beauty in 2021 – which, in the circumstances, now promises to be one of the most special Pantos ever staged at The Kings!”

Gibson, who took over at the top of Capital Theatres just as the pandemic was breaking, added: “There are only three occasions in its 114 year history that a King’s panto has not taken place, the last time being 1968…. so 2020 will be another landmark moment for all the wrong reasons.

“We know this will be as much of a blow to you, our fantastic and loyal audiences, as it is to both the cast who love bringing you such joy every year, and to our tremendous staff who love making it happen. For so many it is the cornerstone of their festive celebrations.”

Gibson also reflected the thoughts of many lovers of theatre, as she recalled the mark which her first trip to the King’s panto made on her.

She said: “I still remember to this day, at the age of eight, my parents taking my brother and I through to Edinburgh to visit relatives and as a festive treat we all went to the King’s to see Mother Goose, with Stanley Baxter at the helm – we were mesmerised, and that was the start of my long love affair with the theatre.”

ENDS

Tags: Allan Stewart, Andy Gray, Capital Theatres, Fiona Gibson, Grant Stott, King's Theatre, News, pantomime