Fun, laughter and world-class talent as fresh new season of shows announced

The very best new drama, musical theatre, family entertainment and world class musicians will be winging their way to the Granite City as a sensational new season of shows is announced today by Aberdeen Performing Arts.

The National Theatre’s stunning stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane (22-26 August 2023), comedy murder mystery Death Drop: Back in the Habit (23-28 January 2023) and West End classic Relatively Speaking (31 January – 4 February 2023) will all add a dramatic touch to His Majesty’s Theatre, while Annie (23 – 27 May 2023) and Buddy the Musical (28 March – 1 April 2023) join recently announced West End heavyweights SIX, The Bodyguard and Shrek the Musical in a musical theatre offering that will leave fans spoilt for choice.

A stunning array of world class musicians will perform in the Music Hall including four-time Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo (21 March 2023) with her blend of West African traditions and elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, the stunning Americana vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens (27 April 2023), and stellar pianist Alice Sara Ott (29 November 2022) and her unique ‘Echoes Of Life’ project. A packed orchestral season includes the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (23 March 2023) performing John Williams’ iconic film scores including Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park.

Families will be delighted by this year’s swashbuckling panto, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan (3 December 2022 – 8 January 2023) and the much-loved Lemon Tree Christmas show, The Enormous Christmas Turnip, while in the Music Hall’s Big Sky Studio, Kissing Linford Christie (26 October 2023) tells the story of one girl’s journey to Olympic success.

Ben Torrie, Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Director of Programming and Creative Projects: “From contemporary to classical, all-time favourites to exhilarating new experiences, and not forgetting our recently announced bumper festival line up of Wonderland and True North in September, this is shaping up to be an unforgettable season for Aberdeen Performing Arts and we are thrilled to be bringing such an exciting programme to the city.

“His Majesty’s Theatre continues to attract the very best shows from the West End and by our national companies, and we are thrilled to be welcoming productions such as the sensational

SIX alongside long-awaited return visits from the National Theatre and the National Theatre of Scotland.

“And the Music Hall will be filled with the glorious sounds of some of the world’s greatest musicians including classical sensations Alice Sara Ott and Sir Bryn Terfel, world music legends Nitin Sawhney and Angelique Kidjo, incredible vocalists Mica Paris and Rhiannon Giddens, plus contemporary stars like Paolo Nutini. A truly stunning array of talent that we can’t wait to welcome to Aberdeen.”

From the imagination of Neil Gaiman, best-selling author of Coraline, Good Omens and The Sandman, comes the National Theatre’s major new stage adaptation of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, direct from its five-star run in the West End. This thrilling adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship blends magic with memory in a tour de force of storytelling that takes audiences on an epic journey to a childhood once forgotten and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.

Death Drop is Back in the Habit at His Majesty’s Theatre from 23-28 January 2023 for this laugh-a-minute, all-drag killer comedy which sees a gaggle of fabulous nuns, trapped in their convent with a serial slayer in this all new follow up to the five-star, smash hit West end comedy.

The uproariously funny and beautifully crafted Relatively Speaking was Alan Ayckbourn’s first West End hit in 1967, making him a household name with plaudits from the likes of Noel Coward, and this brand new production from the Theatre Royal Bath sees the return of Aberdeen of much-loved actor Liza Goddard.

Tony award-winning Annie tells the story of a brave young girl forced to live in a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck changes when she’s chosen to spend Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks.

Multi award-winning Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story makes a triumphant return to His Majesty’s Theatre in March, featuring two hours of some of the greatest songs ever written including That’ll Be the Day, Oh Boy, Everyday and Peggy Sue.

Angelique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today. As a performer, her striking voice, stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have won respect and expanded her following across national borders and she visits North East Scotland for the first time in March 2023.

The acclaimed musician Rhiannon Giddens uses her art to excavate the past and reveal bold truths about the present. She co-founded the Grammy Award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops and has had six further Grammy nominations for her work as a soloist and collaborator.

Alice Sara Ott is known as one of classical music’s most creative minds and will be treating the Music hall audience to her stunning new project, Echoes Of Life, featuring Chopin’s 24 Preludes interspersed with seven contemporary pieces and performed alongside a specially created digital video art by award-winning Turkish architect Hakan Demirel.

With over 50 nominations and five awards, no movie composer has conquered the Oscars as completely as John Williams. Here is your chance to listen to favourites from Star Wars, Superman, and Saving Private Ryan among others through the symphonic interpretation of the outstanding RSNO.

With amazing special effects, stunning sets, beautiful costumes and barrel-loads of laughter, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan will take your whole family on a swashbuckling trip to Neverland like never before. Starring former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer and Dancing On Ice finalist Brendan Cole, panto Dame extraordinaire Alan McHugh, comic actor and River City star Paul J Corrigan and Aberdonian performer Danielle Jam, set sail on a brand new adventure this Christmas at His Majesty’s Theatre.

The ever-delightful Lemon Tree Christmas Show is sure to enchant audiences of all ages as The Enormous Christmas Turnip puts down roots at the city venue this festive season. Help two playful bunnies get ready, set and go – but what happens when one vegetable grows a little too big?

Coming to the Music Hall this October, Kissing Linford Christie is a story about loving failure and dreaming big, inspired by writer Victoria Beesley’s own childhood obsession with athletics.

Ben Torrie added: “We love to see the boundless joy that great performances brings to children in our venues, with our spectacular festive offering to add to a varied and fun family programme which includes David Walliams’ Billionaire Boy, a farewell show from Funbox and even baby opera!

“But it is never too late to introduce yourself to the transformative effect of live performance by great performers, so why not try something new from our new season?”

Tickets for all of these shows go on sale to Friends of Aberdeen Performing Arts on Thursday, 28 July and on general sale on Tuesday, 2 Aust, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.