A slew of household names – from national treasure Dawn French to Spongebob Squarepants – are heading for the Granite City in a glittering new season for Aberdeen Performing Arts.
In the mix will be top-flight family entertainment, unforgettable West End hits and stunning shows from Scottish Ballet – plus the return of crime writing festival Granite Noir.
The new shows are revealed in the spring brochure for His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall which includes previously announced dates for the likes of Jersey Boys, Six and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and a new version of Dracula making its world premiere at HMT.
Great family shows on the way to His Majesty’s and Music Hall
APA’s director of programming and creative projects, Ben Torrie, said: “2023 just keeps getting better and better.
“We’re delighted to be announcing next year’s glittering panto as the enchanting Sleeping Beauty, and ahead of that there are so many great family shows on the way.”
Dawn French will bring her new show to the Music Hall on Thursday October 26. Its title – Dawn French Is A Huge Twat – might raise some eyebrows.
But Dawn explains it by saying: “The show is so named because it is, unfortunately, horribly accurate. There have been many times I have made stupid mistakes.
“I thought I might tell some of these buttock-clenching embarrassing stories to give the audience a peek behind the scenes of my work life.”
Broadway smash The Spongebob Musical will be at His Majesty’s from July 18 to 22 and is a full-on song and dance show where our bold hero has to save Bikini Bottom from a volcano.
Local talent taking to the stage at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen
It leads a great strand of family shows coming to the theatre, including Disney’s Winnie The Pooh (July 14 – 16) and David Walliams’ Demon Dentist (June 22 – 24), while Roald Dahl’s The Three Little Pigs will be at the Music Hall on March 19.
Grown-ups can look forward to two fantastic shows from Scottish Ballet – A Streetcar Named Desire (April 27 – 29) and Cinders (January 25 – 27, 2024).
Also on the bill will be Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning, a world premiere co-production between APA and the National Theatre Of Scotland running from September 2 – 9.
Local talent will also be to the fore with the Aberdeen Student Show offering Ayetanic (April 19 – 22) and Lyric Theatre’s take on Kinky Boots (April 19 – 22).
Famous cast announced for West End hit heading to His Majesty’s
Meanwhile, the cast has been announced for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at HMT from April 4 – 8. Leading the way will be Paul Nicholas, Ruth Madoc and Tessa Peake-Jones.
Other delights in the new brochure include confirmed dates for next year’s Granite Noir, the hugely popular crime fiction festival. It will be held at various venues in the city from February 23 to 26.
Ben said: “Dawn French is one of the most-loved comedians in the country and it’s very exciting to be bringing her to Aberdeen for one night only at the Music Hall.
“Scottish Ballet’s A Streetcar Named Desire is a truly stunning production and joins an already packed lineup for amazing musicals at HMT.
“With such a varied choice for everyone, it looks like Aberdeen is the place to be!”
When will tickets for new shows in Aberdeen go on sale?
Tickets for all the new shows go on sale from Tuesday December 6. For more information go here.
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