Wonderland festival set to enchant Aberdeen this weekend alongside Doors Open Day
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Aberdeen’s witch history is set to be put on show this weekend as part of Wonderland and Doors Open Day.
Taking place from Thursday to Sunday (September 8-11), witchtrialversion2 is an ongoing series of experimental AI/færie surreal sound performances from around Scotland.
The performances will take place at St Nicholas Kirk during Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Wonderland festival.
The neighbouring St Mary’s Chapel will also be opening its doors this weekend as part of Doors Open Day and will offer visitors the opportunity to see its witches’ ring, where those accused of witchcraft were once held.
Both events are offering a bumper weekend of activity in Aberdeen with Doors Open Day being held across Saturday and Sunday, with visitors encouraged to tour buildings such as Bon Accord Baths, backstage at His Majesty’s Theatre and Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Presented by Sweætshops®, witchtrialversion2 is the second instalment in a series of sound performances forming an allegory for the witch burnings as a social mechanism.
The project explores the idea put forth by Silvia Federici that the witch hunts were used to destroy and restructure communities in the transition of power from feudalism to capitalism.
Taking this concept a stage further, witchtrialversion2 views the witch burnings as unconscious mass human sacrifice events, ushering in the spirits of the press and industry.
As a location specific series, witchtrialversion2 explores Aberdeen’s cultural significance in being the arguable starting point of the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597 with the printing and publication of King James VII influential witch-hunting book Dæmonologie that same year.
In the lead up to the show, the artists will distribute printed generative patterns in the kirkyard of the 175 accused ‘witches’ in the Aberdeen area, which will be filmed in the early hours of the morning under the full moon.
The installation is one of 21 that have been curated for the festival, with the aim of illuminating and celebrating Aberdeen, with free performances and events popping up in several city centre locations.
The Wonderland programme is packed full of thought-provoking art, dance, music and sound installations, promising surprises in store around every street corner.
Director of programming and creative projects at APA Ben Torrie said: “Aberdeen has a long association with witches and witchtrialversion2 will provide spectators with a fascinating insight into the city’s history.
“It’s fantastic timing that Doors Open Day is also on this weekend, offering Aberdeen residents and visitors the opportunity to explore the city’s rich history and culture.”
Regional co-ordinator of Doors Open Day Seonaidh Baker said: “Doors Open Days provides Aberdonians and visitors to the city a chance to experience buildings that they have perhaps never seen before.
“There are so many locations in Aberdeen with a rich heritage that will provide visitors with a varied experience, no matter where they choose to visit.
“In total, there are 49 buildings that are set to open their doors to the public and a wide range of interests will be catered for, from museums to historic buildings typically closed off throughout the year, to schools, churches and theatres.
“It promises to be a wicked weekend full of fun for all the family.”
Wonderland runs from September 8-11, at various times, and admission is free and open to everyone.
For the full programme and to buy tickets for the Wonder Hoose events, you can visit www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/wonderland
Other events taking place during Wonderland include Sense Of Wonder, an aerial dance performance; The Sensational Silver City, a theatrical film and sound installation paying homage to world-famous magician and escapologist, Harry Houdini; and Terra Incognita, a weirding of the city, held across various sites, where audiences traverse through a cyclical route that begins and ends at exactly the right time and place.
For more information on Doors Open Day, you can visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk.
