Edinburgh panto villain Grant Stott says “I don’t know how theatres will survive”

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Grant Stott, the much-loved panto ‘baddie’, has called it a “massive financial hit” for Scottish theatre. He said: “We have 90,000 people who come to see us every year, and that’s just in Edinburgh alone.

“If you look at all the other theatres around Scotland and the impact the scale of amount of people that are going to have their Christmases affected, it’s massive.

“Yes, it’s a night out at the theatre and a big family occasion, but for many it’s a hugely important event in the year.

“You also have to consider the impact for the theatres as well as the people that run them. Front of house, backstage and admin all play their part for us, but they’ve not worked since lockdown happened.”

The annual panto represents nearly 30% of operator Capital Theatres' annual income, and will result in a loss of £2.3m for operators after its postponement was announced on Wednesday.

Grant added: “The King’s is run as a charity, not as a business. To be honest I don’t know how they’ve managed to survive, and I don’t know how they will survive until they can open their doors again.”

READ MORE: Edinburgh King's Theatre Sleeping Beauty pantomime called off due to Covid

The King’s Theatre has remained dark since the outbreak of Coronavirus, after closing its doors in March.

This year's panto now postponed until November 2021, Grant believes it could be one of the most hotly-anticipated shows that the Edinburgh venue has seen for decades. 

And according to Grant, The King’s Theatre could be welcoming theatregoers back as early as November – but that won’t come in time to save this year’s pantomime. He said:

“Theatres could reopen again by November, judging by what the government are saying, but that’s obviously too late to put on a million-pound show on the scale that we do every year at the panto.

“We knew a decision would have to be made by August, so we’ve known for a number of weeks that it’s been coming.

“But it’s one thing talking about something, and another thing reading it in black and white. It really hit home and took my breath away a wee bit.”

Sleeping Beauty was last performed as the King’s pantomime title in 1993 and has only been performed three times in its 114-year history.

After the show's cancellation this year, Grant will be spending his first Christmas at home since 1999.

But despite his fears for the industry, the well-known Edinburgh actor is remaining optimistic: “I do believe we’ll come out the other end, and there will be pantos again.

“It’s not going to be easy, but once we can get those doors open there’s going to be such an appetite from the audience to come back and see live theatre, comedy and music.

“For now we’re just having to go a year without the things that we love dearly, and next year is going to be off the scale.”

READ MORE: Pantos could be cancelled

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.

“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."