There’s no place like Aberdeen as sensational new season unveiled for His Majesty’s Theatre and Music Hall
A magical production of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, award-winning comedy, a chilling supernatural thriller and a timeless love story are just some of the new treats on offer from Aberdeen Performing Arts as a new season of shows is announced for His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall today.
The Wizard of Oz comes to His Majesty’s Theatre from 9-13 July 2024, Pretty Woman will strut on to the stage from 15-20 January 2024, and the hilarious Noises Off is from 14-18 November. Classic comedy The Full Monty comes to HMT 19-23 March 2024, while 2:22 A Ghost Story will descend on Aberdeen from 27 February – 2 March 2024, and Matthew Bourne’s stunning retelling of Romeo and Juliet is from 31 October – 4 November, while Scottish Ballet present Swan Lake 19-20 April 2024. Acclaimed musical The Drifters Girl is on 2-6 April 2024, while iconic musical The King and I will take place from 24-28 October and the groundbreaking Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is 21-25 May 2024.
Be inspired by an evening with Billy Billingham MBE, at the Music Hall on November 23 or get ready for laugh out loud moments at the city venue with Lucy Beaumont on 16 November and Iain Stirling on 6 April 2024.
The second annual Rise Up weekend in partnership with We Are Here Scotland will take place 5-6 May to celebrate black and people of colour in Aberdeen and Scotland with performances, panel discussions, workshops and more, while youth arts festival Light the Blue will return for 10-18 June and will include a special performance of The Magical Music of Harry Potter by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Away from the stage, there are two stunning new art installations. Oor Future is a playful exhibition in the Music Hall exploring fundamental climate issues by local collective Oor Monsters – Aberdeen artists Gabrielle Reith and Philip Thompson. There is also a new digital art commission by local artist KMG called Moving On featuring her multi-eyed character Ken.
Ben Torrie, Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Director of Programming and Creative Projects said: “We couldn’t be happier to be presenting a range of fabulous productions for our audiences in the coming year. With classic shows like The Wizard of Oz and The King and I, to brand new hits like The Drifters Girl and 2:22 A Ghost Story, we welcome the best of the West End to the North East.
“Whether you are looking for a hearty laugh, an emotive yarn, or a terrifying thrill, you will find it in the latest season of shows at HMT and the Music Hall.
“And why not enhance your visit to HMT with a stop at The Terrace, our new café bar, which offers a delicious bite to eat and the best views in the city.”
The sensational new production of The Wizard of Oz, one of the world’s most beloved musicals comes to Aberdeen next July. Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film including Over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off the see the Wizard with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice, this spectacular production of the Wizard of Oz will be a truly magical experience for the whole family.
Pretty Woman: The Musical comes to His Majesty’s Theatre in January 2024. Be swept up in this dazzlingly theatrical take on a love story for the ages, direct from London’s West End. With a blazing rock score and a powerhouse creative team you are assured a pretty magical night out.
The hilarious Noises Off takes a fond look at the follies of theatre folk, whose susceptibility to out-of-control egos, memory loss, and passionate affairs turn every performance into a high-risk adventure. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theatre troupe’s production of Nothing On in three stages: dress rehearsal, the opening performance, and a performance towards the end of a debilitating run. The audience are given a window into the inner workings of theatre behind the scenes, progressing from flubbed lines and missed cues in the dress rehearsal to mounting friction between cast members in the final performance. Brimming with slapstick comedy, Noises Off is a delightful backstage farce, complete with slamming doors, falling trousers, and – of course – flying sardines!
There are no heroes in Simon Beaufoy’s heartfelt play, The Full Monty – just a group of lads trying to regain their dignity and pride. This fast and funny play is still very much of our time, as again we are hit by a cost of living crisis. Gaz and his mates are down on their luck and feel they have been thrown on the scrap heap, but they are determined to fight back and bare a little more than they ever thought they would have to.
Critically acclaimed supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story promises to bring the buzz, chills and excitement following record-breaking seasons at four west end theatres.
Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up until 2:22, and then they’ll know.
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet gives Shakespeare’s timeless story of forbidden love a scintillating injection of raw passion and youthful vitality. A masterful re-telling of an ageless tale of teenage discovery and the madness of first love, Romeo and Juliet garnered universal critical acclaim when it premiered in 2019, and now returns to the New Adventures repertoire alongside the very best of Bourne’s world renowned dance theatre productions.
Scottish Ballet present Swan Lake (19-20 April 2024) and two thrilling works, Twice-Born and Schachmatt (Checkmate), on Friday 6 October.
In Swan Lake, arching backs, spiralling arms and mesmerising patterns push the company dancers to their physical limits in this tale of purity versus seduction, accompanied by the Scottish Ballet orchestra.
On Friday 6 October Scottish Ballet will premiere Twice-Born, award-winning choreographer and world-renowned dancer Dickson Mbi’s first commission for the company.
This will be followed by Schachmatt (Checkmate) by Spanish choreographer Cayetano Soto had audiences on their feet at its world premiere. The quirky equestrian-themed ballet sees dancers moving across a giant chessboard.
The Drifter’s Girl was nominated for best new musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards. This smash-hit show has audiences on their feet night after night with a phenomenal soundtrack packed full of iconic Drifter’s hits including Saturday Night at the Movies, Save the last Dance for Me and Stand By Me.
The multi-award winning Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I returns to the UK, following it’s critically acclaimed sold out season at the London Palladium.
This gloriously lavish production is brought to the stage by an internationally renowned creative team under Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific/My Fair Lady/ To Kill A Mockingbird) and will feature a world-class company of over 50 West End and Broadway performers and a full-scale orchestra.
Following a record-breaking three year West End residency, sold out Uk and Ireland tour and Amazon studios award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically acclaimed musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie returns. Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation.
Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
Chief instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Paratrooper, decorated SAS leader, and a bodyguard to Hollywood superstars, Billy Billingham MBE QCB has seen extreme combat and gruelling missions aplenty. Spend an extraordinary evening with him, as he shares his incredible inspirational story.
Award-winning stand-up comedian Lucy Beaumont stops off at the Music Hall on Thursday 16 November. In this show Lucy plans to let loose and let slip on her roller coaster world. Life through the Beaumont lens is more surreal than you could ever imagine.
BAFTA-winning comedian and national sensation (Evening Standard) Iain Stirling, is bringing his intuitive razor-sharp humour back for 2024. As the iconic voice of Love Island, star and writer of sitcom Buffering on ITV, Iain hits the road once more with a brand new hour of jokes in his biggest tour to date.
Witches, wizards and muggles alike are sure to enjoy The Magical Music of Harry Potter. Experience the sounds of Hogwarts brought thrillingly to life by Scotland’s National Orchestra as they perform the phenomenal scores from this iconic series. You’ll be spellbound by the interval! So, grab your broom, apparate, or catch the Hogwarts Express and join us for an evening of unforgettable music that you’ll know and love.
All shows go on sale to Friends of Aberdeen Performing Arts on Thursday, April 6 and on general sale on Tuesday, April 11 with the exception of Scottish Ballet shows, which are on sale now, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, calling 01224 641122 or visiting the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
