A spectacular and much-anticipated return for Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson’s hit show The High Life leads the way in an electrifying new line up of blockbuster shows and performers headed for Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall as the new Aberdeen Performing Arts Autumn brochure is unveiled.
Amongst the highlights are Tony and Olivier Award winning musical Operation Mincemeat, ultimate feel-good romcom Legally Blonde the Musical, and the intoxicating tale of The Talented Mr Ripley.
Dance fans will be thrilled by the captivating Nutcracker in Havana, along with Scottish Ballet’s stunning production of Starstruck, while a new production of Hamlet will add some gravitas and prestige to the new season.
In this retelling of Shakespeare, performers with Down’s syndrome take centre stage, sharing their own stories alongside the classic text.
Comedic titans Daniel Sloss and Connor Burns are the latest big names to join the ranks of the Aberdeen Comedy Festival, alongside previously announced Chris McCausland, Bridget Christie and Rory Bremner amongst a host of other comedy favourites.
The High Life, a National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep Theatre production in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres, will embark on a tour of just four venues in Spring 2026, landing at His Majesty’s Theatre from Tuesday, April 14 to Saturday, April 18.
Aberdeen Performing Arts director of programming, Ben Torrie said: “The inimitable Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson will be making a welcome return to Aberdeen with a brand new revival of the 90s cult classic The High Life. Since airing in the 90s it has continued to hold a place in the hearts of audiences who appreciate the show’s unique and joyful humour.
"So it’s high time the show made its much-anticipated return with brand new material and original songs, ready to charm fans old and new!”
Ben continues: “We’re passionate about bringing a wide range of shows and performers to our stages, and we’re always striving to bring the best entertainment to Aberdeen.
“Our new season announcement reflects that with the hilarious caper Operation Mincemeat alongside stunningly beautiful productions such as Nutcracker in Havana and the gripping story of The Talented Mr Ripley all heading for HMT, while this new production of Hamlet will be a powerfully moving and thought-provoking rethink of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.”
Aberdeen Performing Arts cultural programme manager, Steven Milne commented: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Daniel Sloss and Connor Burns to the Aberdeen Comedy Festival line up.
“They’re both comedians at the top of their game and will be a fantastic addition to what is shaping up to be a brilliant festival.”
After a 30-year delay in the departure lounge, The High Life returns in a new musical spectacular featuring all four original cast members - Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond and Patrick Ryecart, flying into His Majesty’s Theatre from Tuesday, April 14 to Saturday, April 18 2026.
Oh deary me! Air Scotia has been sold, and unless our intrepid cabin crew can prove they’re still fit for purpose it looks like the future destination for Air Scotia is the scrap heap. In this flight for their lives, our cut-price cabin crew must get themselves (and their passengers) to their destination safely, testing their mettle and putting decades old friendships and rivalries finally to rest.
Based on the original much loved BBC Scotland cult comedy series, this revival sees our iconic characters finding themselves growing older in an ever-changing world. It’s wickedly funny, features new and original music, is stuffed full of camp silliness and is cleared for take-off.
Operation Mincemeat comes to His Majesty’s Theatre from Tuesday, August 11 to Saturday, August 15 2026. It’s 1943, and the Allied Forces are on the ropes.
Luckily, they’ve got a trick up their sleeve. Well, not up their sleeve, per se, but rather inside the pocket of a stolen corpse. Equal parts farce, thriller, and Ian Fleming-style spy caper (with an assist from Mr. Fleming himself), Operation Mincemeat tells the wildly improbable and hilarious true story of the covert operation that turned the tide of WWII.
Directed by Robert Hastie, Operation Mincemeat began performances on Broadway on February 15 and is now playing at the historic Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).
Starring in Operation Mincemeat are David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Olivier Award-winner Jak Malone, and Zoë Roberts, who have reprised their original, acclaimed performances for the musical’s Broadway (American) premiere.
Legally Blonde the Musical struts in to Aberdeen from Tuesday, June 23 to Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The smash-hit musical comedy, based on the award-winning film starring Reese Witherspoon, follows Elle Woods on her transformation from ‘It Girl’ fashionista to legal ace at Harvard Law School, all in the name of love. Elle must prove she is more than blonde ambition, swap the changing rooms for the courtroom and learn that ‘being true to yourself never goes out of style.’
Casting and further creatives to be announced.
Step into a world of deception, desire, and deadly ambition with The Talented Mr Ripley from Tuesday, February 10 to Saturday, February 14.
This electrifying new stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller to life like never before. With razor-sharp dialogue, simmering tension, and a dangerously charismatic antihero, this gripping production will pull you into Ripley’s intoxicating world - where nothing is quite as it seems.
Tom Ripley is a nobody - scraping by in New York, forging signatures, telling little white lies - until a chance encounter changes everything. When a wealthy stranger offers him an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy to bring home his wayward son, Dickie Greenleaf, Tom leaps at the opportunity.
But in the sun-drenched glamour of 1950s Italy, surrounded by shimmering waters and whispered secrets, Tom is seduced by the life Dickie leads - the freedom, the wealth, the effortless charm. Fascination turns to obsession, and as his grip tightens on Dickie’s world, the lines between truth and deception begin to blur. What starts as an innocent opportunity spirals into a chilling game of lies, identity theft, and murder.
Nutcracker in Havana comes to His Majesty’s from Thursday, January 15 to Saturday, January 17 2026.
It is a colourful Cuban take on the festive classic, set to an exuberant Cuban newly-commissioned version of the magnificent Tchaikovsky score, arranged by Cuban composer Pepe Gavilondo. Featuring over 20 dancers from Carlos’ Cuban company Acosta Danza, this traditional story is brought to life with ballet at its core but in Carlos’ unique style, seeing dance traditions of Cuba carefully fused and woven throughout the classic tale.
With spectacular video projection and set design by Nina Dunn (9 to 5 Musical, Bonnie and Clyde, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Don Quixote), Cuba collides with the Land of Sweets, bringing snow to Havana in a visually stunning spectacular treat for all.
Javier Andreu and Sophie Martin in Scottish Ballet's Starstruck. Credit Andy Ross (2)
Scottish Ballet’s Starstruck is set to stun audiences at HMT from Friday, May 1 to Saturday, May 2 2026. Gene Kelly’s multifaceted brilliance as an entertainer has delighted generations of movie-lovers, and his pioneering choreography has influenced generations of dance-makers. We honour his creative legacy with Starstruck, returning to the stage in 2026 enhanced and extended.
From Olympus to Hollywood and Paris, dancers, screen legends and Greek gods are starstruck by love as mythology meets backstage drama, with the sparkling Jazz Age music of George Gershwin and Maurice Ravel performed by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.
Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh International Festival, Teatro La Plaza’s bold and vibrant take on the classic tragedy with Hamlet coming to His Majesty’s Theatre from Thursday, November 6 to Saturday, November 8.
Inspired by ‘To Be or Not To Be’ and performed by an extraordinary cast of actors with Down syndrome, this Hamlet is a fearless challenge to exclusion and prejudice, celebrating community and resilience.
For one night only on Friday, October 3, join Scotland’s international comedy star Daniel Sloss putting the finishing touches to his brand-new show at the Music Hall, maybe with a special guest or two. Maybe not.
That's the pitch. It will be funny, rude and a one off.
Ok - we should probably also mention that Daniel was the biggest ticket selling comedian in the world for most of 2021, has sold out six New York solo off-Broadway seasons, appeared on U.S TV’s ‘Conan’ ten times, broken box office records in Edinburgh and toured in 55 countries.
Daniel’s Netflix specials ‘DARK’ & ‘Jigsaw’ are streaming in 190 countries, 26 languages with the infamous ‘Jigsaw’ now credited with breaking up over 120,000 couples and cited in over 300 divorces world-wide (some fans even bringing their divorce papers for him to autograph at shows).
Connor Burns brings his new show Gallus to the Music Hall on Friday, September 26.
The all-new show from Scotland’s hilarious new international breakthrough stand-up star. A hit at the 2024 Fringe Encore Series as part of the New York Comedy Festival, Connor’s previous show “1994” also sold 10,000+ tickets in Edinburgh, toured 100 dates around UK and Australia. He’s supported Daniel Sloss in 3 continents and his debut comedy special gets its world-wide release this summer.
The all-new hour from the Edinburgh born-and-bred comedian who has risen through the ranks at an almost meteoric rate since his very first open spot in October 2017 to establish himself as the country’s latest international break-through artist. Hailed as one of the most exciting emerging new stars in the live stand-up scene, Connor’s prolific joke writing, his intelligent, razor-sharp wit and relatable friendly persona is punctuated by a healthy Scottishlevel cynicism that has also seen him become a social media sensation.
Gallus is Connor’s fourth solo show, and lands hot on the heels of his previous smash-hit 1994’ which sold 10,000+ tickets in Edinburgh alone –a feat all the more remarkable as he has achieved this through word-of mouth with no UK television exposure.
Tickets are on sale to Friends of Aberdeen Performing Arts on Thursday, June 5, and on general sale on Tuesday, June 10, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.