Stott swaps studio for stage

Forth One DJ plans new #EdFringe show

Radio Forth DJ and King’s panto villain, Grant Stott, is planning to bring a new two-man show to this summer’s Edinburgh fringe with fellow panto pal Andy Gray.

Stott told Æ that he will use his forthcoming break from radio to hone last August’s hit fringe show, Tales from Beyond the Mic, for a tour. He also confirmed that he and Gray are currently looking for a suitable show for the Edinburgh fringe 2017.

Grant Stott

The daytime radio host, who announced his impending departure live on air, told Æ: “It’s essentially a break so I can re-write and re-stage Tales for the tour with a view to having some down time and then return to the radio sometime later in the year.”

The Edinburgh King’s panto finished its run on Sunday after 83 performances. Stott will continue hosting his radio show until the end of next week, Friday 27 January. This is his first long break from broadcasting in 27 years at Forth.

Gray and Stott have built a strong on-stage relationship outside the annual King’s pantomime. The two hander Kiss Me Honey, Honey!  at the fringe in 2013 was followed by Willie and Sebastian in 2015 – which won Gray an acting award from The Stage newspaper.

The duo teamed up with Allan Stewart the third member of their panto triumvirate, in the early part of 2016, touring Canned Laughter. But for the fringe in 2016, Gray was unavoidably detained on the set of River City leaving Stott to go it alone on Tales from beyond the Mic, with Gray taking on directing duties.

Tour

The impending tour of Tales is due to set off on February 26 at Giffnock, arriving at the Edinburgh King’s on May 7. And Stott is set to team up with Stewart again for Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show at the beginning of March.

Finding a suitable production for this year’s fringe is not a straightforward task, however, despite Stott and Gray’s past successes. The shows have traded partly on their comic timing, but have been such strong productions because they have found something deeper behind the laughter.

Stott confirmed to Æ: “Andy and I are hoping to do another play at the Fringe and we’re looking for one to do as we speak.

“We’ve feelers out there to find one, but plays for two chaps ‘of a certain age’ are tricky to find. But hoping we can find one soon!”

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ENDS

Tags: #EdFringe, EdFringe 2017, Grant Stott, Production News, Tales From Behind the Mic