Light the Blue
Multi-artform Festival For and By Young People
Light the Blue is our multi-arts festival for and by young people where we support and celebrate the voices of the next generation in the North-east of Scotland.
The 2026 festival invited over 1000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland to imagine the shape of the world in time to come or reflect on their memories and moments that have shaped who they are today. Light the Blue took over the theatre, shopping centres, gardens, playgrounds and other unexpected spaces across Aberdeen.
Light the Blue welcomes everyone to play, to be curious and to celebrate the joy of telling stories with us.
Light the Blue 2026 Hailed a Triumph
Aberdeen Performing Arts’ festival for and by young people, Light the Blue has been hailed a triumph as the curtain came down on 13 incredible days of performances, exhibitions, theatre, art and workshops across Aberdeen.
This year’s Light the Blue asked participants and audiences “What’s your story?” in a theme throughout the festival that explored ‘looking forward and looking back’, with more than 1,000 young people and professional artists, 40 schools and audiences in excess of 5,500 all getting involved in the festivities.
Free or low cost performances, workshops, backstage tours, networking events and interactive exhibitions gave more opportunities than ever to find new and exciting ways to engage with the arts.
Together at Light the Blue we…
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ENJOYED
13 incredible days of performances and workshops
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CELEBRATED
More than 1,000 young people and professional artists
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NURTURED
Creativity and confidence in 40 schools
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DELIGHTED
Audiences in excess of 5,500
The Theme for 2026
Looking Forward Looking Back
“Our theme for Light the Blue this year has been focussed on looking forward and looking back, inviting artists and audiences to explore their own stories for joy, inspiration and hope as well as sharing dreams for the future. The result has been even more special than we could have hoped for, sparking so many unforgettable moments throughout the festival and it has been an absolute privilege to see it all come together.”
– Jordan Blackwood, Light the Blue Creative Producer
Looking Back
Boys Don’t Dance
In that same vein, let’s look back at some of the highlights from Light the Blue starting with Boys Don’t Dance!
The co-commission by Imaginate in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts was a poignant dance theatre show by acclaimed disabled director, choreographer and dancer Marc Brew, reflecting on his journey as a boy who defied society’s expectations to embrace his love for dance.
The show at the Lemon Tree featured a curtain raiser performed by young disabled and non-disabled dancers from across the region.
Family Arts Day
A real highlight of Light the Blueis Family Arts Day! An exciting day of pop-up and interactive performances, arts activities, live music, sports, food, backstage tours and inspirational experiences for all the family.
The event took place across Union Terrace Gardens and His Majesty’s Theatre and invited those aged 0 – 12 and their families to spend the day with us.
We showcased over 200 young and professional performers; hosted a family-friendly backstage tour of the iconic His Majesty’s Theatre; had stations where you could create your own arts and crafts; a space for drop-in sports activities; and brought a lively atmosphere to Aberdeen’s city centre for all to enjoy.
See more at the video below.
Playground
A PARTICIPATORY PERFORMANCE PROJECT WHERE 500 PUPILS FROM ACROSS ABERDEEN CITY AND SHIRE EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF THEATRE, DANCE, MUSIC AND VISUAL ARTS!
Following last year’s success of ‘Playground’ in individual schools, this year we took the project to the next level – inviting nearly 500 pupils to make Union Terrace Gardens their creative playground for the day, performing a new large-scale promenade show.
Made in just one week in collaboration with Sprog Rock band and a team of local artists, the show was inspired by Light the Blue 2026’s festival theme looking forward / looking back.
Playground allows us to inspire young people from across the region to be creative, build confidence, express themselves and ultimately share in a memorable experience. It’s all about coming together, developing new skills, sharing stories and putting a creative stamp on public spaces.
See more at the video below.
TAKEOVER
Once again, our creative trail took over the city centre, with pop-up performances from local youth groups based across Aberdeen city, shire and wider Scotland. There were dance, theatre and music performances taking place in unusual spaces, from band stands to shopping centres. Each location featured a number of acts before moving on to the next stop on the trail – and invited audiences to follow along with us.
The Takeover trail began at Marischal Square before moving through the city and finishing at the Music Hall.
Performances from Aberdeen Performing Arts Youth Theatre , Aberdeen Arts Centre’s 12-15s & Castlegate Theatre Company, Academy of Expressive Arts, Citymoves Dance Agency’s Fusion & Horizons, Drake Music Scotland’s Digital Orchestra Central, Dundee Rep’s 14-18 Young Company, Eden Court’s Young Company, Mitchell School of Drama, Pam Dignan Dancers , Ten Feet Tall’s FUSE and featured shmu FM and Beats & Rhymes music.
Opportunities
New Play Commission for Light the Blue 2027
Aberdeen Performing Arts is seeking to commission a new play for Light the Blue 2027.
We are looking for an early career writer aged 18 – 35 who is based in or has a meaningful connection to the North-East of Scotland to create a new piece of theatre for adult audiences.
Find out more through the call-out here: NEW PLAY COMMISSION FOR LTB 2027
We are delighted to offer this commission opportunity as part of Light the Blue 2027. The new production will open at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen in June 2027 for a run of up to 1 week.
Supported by The Scottish Government’s Expanded Festival Fund through Creative Scotland.
Photo Gallery
Previously at LTB
Previously at Light the Blue
Light the Blue 2025 came to a triumphant close on 15 June after an electrifying 15 days of theatre, art, music, dance, workshops and performances across the city.
This year’s festival invited artists and audiences to Step Into The Unknown – where 9,100 attendees were able to experience stories being told in new and exciting ways across 25 events on our stages as well as unusual indoor and outdoor locations. It truly took over the city of Aberdeen with the festival taking place not just in our own venues but in places such as Aberdeen Art Gallery, The Anatomy Rooms, Bon Accord Centre, Marischal College, Union Terrace Gardens and many more.
See the full breakdown from last years event over at LIGHT THE BLUE 2025.
Thanks To
Special Thanks To Our Teams
Our festivals simply wouldn’t be possible without the passion, creativity and dedication of our incredible freelance staff and the team at Aberdeen Performing Arts. From early planning to the final curtain call, everyone brings energy, expertise, and heart to everything they do. Their hard work behind the scenes ensures Light the Blue is a vibrant, welcoming, and memorable experience for artists and audiences alike.
We are particularly grateful to the brilliant freelancers who support our festivals — from producers to technicians to young creatives. Their expertise, flexibility and commitment play a vital role in bringing our event to life is felt in every smooth-running show and memorable moment.
Thank you team, we couldn’t do this without you!
Freelance Team
Jordan Blackwood – Creative Producer
Annabel Lunney – Associate Producer
Angus Hogg – Assistant Producer
Support Artist – Eve Martin
Kevin Yule – Production Manager
Creative Teams
Gilcomstoun School Young Creatives
Skene Square School Young Creatives
Light the Blue 2026 Young Programmers
Boys Don’t Dance Curtain Raiser:
Lead Artists – Giulia Montalbano & Fox Banks
Support Artist – Mae Diansangu
Aberdeen Performing Arts Youth Theatre team:
Josef Boon, Michelle Bruce, Seumas Dale, Sarah Ord, Oliver Tate & Lynsay Wilson
Playground Schools Team
Music Artists – Geraldine Heaney & Ronan McMahon (Sprog Rock band)
Drama Artists – Sarah Ord & Hannah Davidson
Movement Artists – Niamh O’Loughlin & Leah Christie
Visual Artists – Jenny Hood & Claudia Sneddon
Partners
With many thanks to the organisations that joined us and took part across the two weeks of the festival:
Aberdeen Arts Centre, Aberdeen City Music Service, Aberdeenshire Music Service, Big Noise Torry, Benedetti Foundation, Catherine Wheels, Citymoves Dance Agency, Dundee Rep, Eden Court, Emma Lowson Dance, Gray’s School of Art, North East Scotland College, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, SC&T Youth, Scottish Theatre Producers, Scottish Youth Theatre, Sound, Starcatchers, Station House Media Unit, Ten Feet Tall & Universities Folk & Trad Society.
Support Us
If you have a little extra and would like to support the work we do here at Aberdeen Performing Arts, then consider donating to us directly.
Your donation can help develop local talent, provide opportunities to those who don’t have the chance to join in or assist in producing unique performances.
