Aberdeen Performing Arts’ multi-arts festival Light the Blue is to take place this summer, returning to illuminate and celebrate art in all its forms in venues and spaces across the city for two weeks from June 1 to 15.
Created for and by young people, Light the Blue 2025 will be packed with theatre, music, dance, film, visual arts and more, providing a stage for young artists, young audiences, schools and emerging artists alike and creating opportunities to be involved both on and off stage.
The festival launch was marked by Aberdeen Performing Arts along with young creatives from Gilcomstoun and Skene Square Primary Schools at Union Terrace Gardens, unveiling the first events announced for Light the Blue 2025.
The young creatives have been involved in co-designing this year's Family Arts Day, informing programming, marketing and other key elements.
Creative producer for Light the Blue, Jordan Blackwood, said: “Light the Blue is a festival where young creatives are put in the driving seat, curating a line-up that represents an authentic snapshot of young and emerging talent while creating connections and fun opportunities in indoor and outdoor venues to drive forward and ignite the creativity that Aberdeen and the surrounding area has to offer.
“We’re embracing a city-wide approach with events and fun opportunities at a range of venues and we’ll be inviting more young people from across Scotland and beyond to engage with the festival – bringing diverse groups together to connect, share and celebrate who they are.”
James Murison Photography
Among the highlights of this year are a playground performance created in just one week with all 300+ pupils from Gilcomstoun Primary School, mini Fringe day Emerge, a special 100-strong Snappy Operas concert, one-man show Tongue Twister and the action-packed Family Arts Day. The full programme will be announced soon.
Aberdeen Performing Arts chief executive, Sharon Burgess, added: “There is something for every family in Aberdeen at Light the Blue. This year’s festival theme is ‘Into the Unknown’, and we hope to encourage people to try something new, be it as an audience member, a performer or in a backstage role.
“There is such a rich and varied range of new and emerging talent here in the North-east of Scotland, and we want to put young people’s future in their own hands, shaping a festival to perfectly showcase what they are capable of, given the opportunity.
“It is a terrific way to build confidence, inspire creativity and ignite imaginations, with a varied programme of free and low cost performances and workshops. Whether you want to actively participate or sit back and enjoy having the first opportunity to see the next big thing, we want to make everyone feel welcome and most of all to enjoy Light the Blue and all it has to offer.”
Kicking off the festival on Sunday, June 1 at the Music Hall, Emerge offers the chance to be the first to see brand new work by emerging artists from across the country.
An interactive and inclusive event, Emerge invites artists and audiences to spend the day watching new shows, taking part in networking sessions and meeting industry professionals.
Among the artists taking part are Stonehaven-based Lucy Beth with Ma Name is Isabelle, a feminist retelling of the story behind the well-known bothy ballad, Bogie’s Bonnie Belle, written and performed in Doric, while Aberdeen-based dance artists Laura Booth and Sarah Ord are working with Fusion Young Dance Company on a new show for nursery audiences.
This will be tested out as part of Emerge to gain industry and peer feedback, followed by a work-in-progress performance with young audiences at Light the Blue’s Family Arts Day, which takes place on Sunday, June 8.
Pupils from Gilcomstoun Primary School will play a central role in Light the Blue 2025, with every pupil in the school working intensively over just one week with a team of professional artists to create Playground, a performance which celebrates the diversity of their school community, on Friday 6th June.
James Murison Photography
Family Arts Day will once again take place between His Majesty’s Theatre and Union Terrace Gardens as well as Aberdeen Art Gallery, with a focus on work for and by primary school aged children as well as their families.
A range of low-cost and free activities and performances will be taking place throughout the day, including family-friendly performances and backstage tours at His Majesty’s Theatre, craft workshops, walkabout and interactive performances and a dedicated sensory space.
The finale of Family Arts Day will involve a procession of young people presenting puppets, banners, masks and other crafts which have been made in the lead-up to and during the day inspired by the festival theme into the unknown. Parading through the winding walkways of the Gardens accompanied by live music, the procession will culminate in a family-friendly musical gig from Sprog Rock involving artists from across the day and inviting audiences to celebrate together.
Snappy Operas on Thursday, June 5 will be a joyous, inspirational evening of contemporary opera performed by over 100 children from local primary schools accompanied by a live band.
On Saturday, June 7, Tongue Twister at the Lemon Tree is one man’s attempt to say tongue twisters in as many different languages as possible. Whilst also trying to dance. And make music. And do all the costume changes without leaving the stage. A delight for the eyes and ears, this humorous and colourful show is a celebration of the musical beauty of language.
Tongue Twister is produced by Scottish Theatre Producers and commissioned by Imaginate in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, in association with Showbox Festival & Kloden and supported by North Edinburgh Arts.
The full line up will be announced soon featuring two weeks of performances, artist opportunities, school activities and workshops for all young people to get involved in.
Tickets for the shows announced today are on sale now, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.