Life of Pi  leads stellar line up of new shows bound for His Majesty’s Theatre

A dazzling theatrical adaptation of the best-selling novel Life of Pi will come to His Majesty’s Theatre from January 30 – February 4 2024 as part of its first ever UK tour, joining a line up of stunning new productions heading for Aberdeen.

One of the world’s most loved musicals, Grease, will bring some Summer lovin’ to Aberdeen from July 2-6 2024, and family favourite Madagascar the Musical promises hilarious fun from August 12-17 2024. Local literary heroes will be brought to life as one of the region’s most celebrated novels, Sunset Song comes to the His Majesty’s Theatre stage from May 8-11 2024, while Rambert’s Nina Simone inspired dance piece, Death Trap, visits from March 26-28 2024.

Aberdeen Performing Arts Director of Programming and Creative Projects, Ben Torrie said: “Life of Pi is a truly remarkable piece of theatre with breathtaking scenery and puppetry and a unique and powerful story. We’re thrilled to be bringing this amazing production to Aberdeen on its first ever UK tour, it will be so exciting to see such a huge production on the HMT stage.
“Grease is renowned for its boundless energy, passion and iconic tunes and is the perfect summer show for 2024, while Madagascar is a hugely colourful, fun and fast paced show for all the family.
“Sunset Song is full of the character and heart of the North East, so it will be fantastic to see that on the stage here in Aberdeen, so close to where the original novel was set. Great storytelling is also at the heart of this incredible piece of work from Rambert, with the music of Nina Simone as a backdrop it is a stunning production and not to be missed by dance fans.
“We’re delighted to be bringing more high quality shows to His Majesty’s for 2024 and we’re sure our audiences will enjoy what’s in store.”

Lolita Chakrabarti’s dazzling Olivier Award-winning stage adaption of Yann Martel’s best-selling novel Life of Pi, features an extraordinary life-size puppeteered Bengal Tiger.

Based on one of the best-loved works of fiction – winner of the Man Booker Prize, selling over fifteen million copies worldwide – Life of Pi is a breath-taking new theatrical adaptation of an epic journey of endurance and hope. After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors stranded on a single lifeboat – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, a sixteen year-old boy and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

With its phenomenal score, bursting with hits including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want, a thrilling new version of Grease will be brought to life by a fresh young cast who bring energy, vitality and passion to this ultimate musical classic. After a whirlwind summer romance, leather-clad greaser Danny and girl-next-door Sandy are unexpectedly reunited when she transfers to Rydell High for senior year. But can they survive the trials and tribulations of teenage life and find true love once more?

Join Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in the, live musical spectacular, Madagascar the Musical. This smash hit musical features all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.

Sunset Song tells the story of Scotland’s most loved literary heroine, and a coming-of-age tale that has moved audiences across the world. Faced with a choice between a hard farming life and a world of learning, spirited Chris Guthrie chooses to remain in her rural community of Kinraddie, bound by a deep love of the land. Her journey to womanhood in the early 20th century sees her face crushing poverty, harrowing family trials, stirring love, and the ever-looming threat of the First World War. Her enduring strength is tested as her way of life is altered beyond recognition. With a profound lyrical intensity, Sunset Song tells the story of human resilience in the face of great loss.

This revitalised and reimagined production stars Danielle Jam as Chris Guthrie and brings together an award-winning Scottish creative team. Sunset Song is co-conceived by writer Morna Young (Lost at Sea, The Stamping Ground) and director Finn den Hertog (The Enemy, Square Go). Composer Finn Anderson (Islander, A Mother’s Song) provides the music. With a rich Scots language text, dynamic and physically charged staging, and vivid live music, Sunset Song promises to deliver a thrilling celebration of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s powerful and resonant novel.

Death Trap from Rambert comprises two works: Cerberus and Goat, by Ben Duke. Is Aishwarya dead? Or did she just exit stage left? A meta dance comedy, full of the turbulence of life and death. Darkly funny and packed with originality. Rambert and Ben Duke are masters of dance theatre where the dance is exceptional and the theatre delivers irresistible stories.

In Cerberus, enter a world where dance is literally a matter of life or death. This is a bittersweet musing on myth and mortality, complete with funeral couture. Goat is a dance theatre creation from rising star Ben Duke. Darkly funny and deeply moving, it dissects the pleasure and pain of performing. The work is inspired by the music and spirit of Nina Simone, with a selection of her best-loved songs – including Feeling Good, Ain’t Got No/I Got Life and Feelings – performed live by an onstage band led by jazz singer Nia Lynn. Following their knock-out Peaky Blinders tour, this is your next chance to see Rambert’s brilliant and daring dancers in these two short pieces created for them by Ben Duke (of Lost Dog Dance), known for story-telling that reveals the absurd, the savage and the funny.

Tickets for all of these shows go on sale to Friends of Aberdeen Performing Arts on Wednesday, August 9 and on general sale on Thursday, August 10, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.