Jimmy Carr, Rob Brydon and a host of West End shows unveiled for new Aberdeen Performing Arts season
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There’s more than 101 reasons to visit Aberdeen in 2024 and beyond, with the announcement of a spectacular new season of shows bound for His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall.
Fans of musical theatre will be spoiled for choice with their pick of shows from fresh and fun West End hits to beloved feel-good favourites. Audiences will go dotty for 101 Dalmatians, (Tuesday October 29 – Saturday November 2), a thought-provoking coming of age tale with Dear Evan Hansen (Tuesday, March 4 – Saturday, March 8 2025), the fabulously funny & Juliet (Tuesday, February 4 – Saturday, February 8), and classics Blood Brothers (Tuesday, October 1 – Saturday, October 5), and Hairspray (Tuesday January 20 – Saturday January
25 2025).
Theatre-goers will be taken to new heights with the newly announced His Majesty’s Theatre pantomime for the 2024 season, Jack and the Beanstalk (November 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025), the family favourites continue with The Tiger who came to Tea (Saturday, August 10 – Sunday August 11) and Children’s Classic Concerts return with Out of this World (March 10) and the cream of local talent will be on display with Lyric Theatre’s Sunshine on Leith (Wednesday June 26 – Saturday June 29).
Comedy fans are well catered for with fan favourites Elaine C Smith (March 8), Rob Brydon (February 19) and Jimmy Carr (February 19 2025). A special prologue to Granite Noir Festival with a talk from bestselling author Tess Gerritsen (January 26) and an illustrious line up of some of Scotland’s greatest singers and musicians with Scotland Sings Bacharach (March 1) complete a sensational line up announced by Aberdeen Performing Arts.
Aberdeen Performing Arts Director of Programming and Creative Projects, Ben Torrie said: “It’s so exciting to be bringing the very best in theatre, comedy and music to the North East with this new season announcement, as well as celebrating the cream of local talent. & Juliet will bring the feel-good vibes with a fresh new take on a classic love story, while Elaine C Smith is always a welcome face at our venues – we can’t wait to have her back.
The line up for Scotland Sings Bacharach is a who’s who of the finest musical talent this country has to offer, and Tess Gerritsen will tee us up nicely for Granite Noir Festival in February!”
Direct from London comes the smash hit family musical 101 Dalmatians. When fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups.
This classic canine caper is brought to life on stage with spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, witty songs and irresistible puppies!
Packed with some of the biggest musical theatre songs of the last decade, Dear Evan Hansen has a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Oscar-winning composers for The Greatest Showman) and a book by Steven Levenson. Its many awards include the Tony Award for Best Musical, Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. Today is going to be a good day. And here’s why… Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him.
The Olivier award-winning & Juliet will have the audience up on its feet and roaring for more.
& Juliet is fabulously fresh and riotously funny, exploding with dozens of pop anthems by legendary songwriter Max Martin, including Britney Spears’ Baby One More and Katy Perry’s Roar.
The legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. Affectionately christened the ‘standing ovation musical’, Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances on London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged Tell Me It’s Not True.
Hairspray takes us to the 60s, where everyone is grooving to a brand new sound! Enter Tracy Turnblad, with big hair, big heart and big dreams to dance her way on to national TV.
This fun filled, feel-good show is bursting with show-stopping number, dazzling costumes, and dizzying dance routines!
Featuring some of musical theatre’s biggest and best hit songs, including Welcome to the 60s, You Can’t Stop the Beat, Good Morning Baltimore and so many more, Hairspray is the hilarious, joyous and uplifting musical for all.
Fee Fi Fo Fum, Jack and the Beanstalk is a panto full of fun! Follow Jack, and climb a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloudland in this spectacular family pantomime. Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack and his family as they fight to outwit the evil giant, win riches beyond his wildest dreams and the hand of the girl he loves. Expect laughs, music, special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation in this giant of a pantomime!
Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show, The Tiger who Came to Tea, returns.
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!
Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a- long songs clumsy chaos..expect to be surprised!
Soar Out of This World with Children’s Classic Concerts and their very own 20-piece Essential Orchestra. Boldly going where no orchestra has been before, taking you on an orchestral odyssey exploring musical galaxies far, far away – and perhaps meeting some instrument playing aliens along the way! Ideal for children aged 4-12 and their families.
The Lyric Musical Society returns to His Majesty’s Theatre with this jubilant, heartfelt musical about the power of home, family, and love featuring the songs of The Proclaimers.
Sunshine on Leith follows the highs and lows of Ally and his friend Davy as they discover the families, friendships and life are not all plain sailing in this funny and moving story about love and life.
The fantastic feelgood show is a revised version, promising a fresh new production that is sure to delight north east audiences.
Elaine C Smith returns to His Majesty’s Theatre with her brand new show 65. A look over at the best (and worst) times in life and career. She asks the question “How the hell did I get here?” and “What does it all mean?” and “Is there anything better than a family bag of Revels?” Some laughs. Some tears and some songs into the bargain..whether you want it or not. But, most important, a good night out!
Don’t miss Rob Brydon – one of the UK’s finest entertainers and his superb 9-piece orchestra in a very special evening as Rob shares his personal musical journey from South Wales to Hollywood and back. Audiences will enjoy a selection of toe-tapping tunes from Tom Jones to Tom Watts, Elvis to Guys and Dolls and of course those famed impressions.
If you like fast-paced, edgy one-liners then get ready to be happy. Jimmy Carr is going back on tour with his brand new show Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny. Jimmy tells jokes, and jokes are like magnets. Jokes attract people, but they can also repel.
January brings an exclusive opportunity to spend the evening with Tess Gerritsen, the internationally bestselling author and creator of homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles which inspired the hit TV series Rizzoli and Isles.
Scotland Sings Bacharach comes to the Music Hall with Blue Rose Code, Georgia Cecile, Justin Currie, Hamish Hawk, Horse, Karine Polwart and Emma Pollock.
Produced by Perth Concert Hall under the musical direction of Stuart Nisbet, a stellar cast of some of Scotland’s greatest singers and finest musicians come together to pay respect to a true giant of 20 th century popular music.
Tickets for all of these shows go on sale on Friday, December 1, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the Music Hall at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
