A 500 strong band of primary school pupils are set to transform Aberdeen’s city centre into a performance playground this June when they take over Union Terrace Gardens to showcase an original piece encompassing drama, dance, visual art and music.
School pupils gathered at the city’s Music Hall this week to begin planning and rehearsing their June 12 performance, which will include a brand new song that they will write and produce over the coming weeks with leading children’s band Sprog Rock.
The unique project will be part of this year’s Light the Blue Festival, Aberdeen Performing Arts’ festival for and by young people, taking place across the city centre from 2-14 June.
Over 1,000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland will come together to celebrate new and emerging talent, creating opportunities and joyful connection with 13 days of performances, activities and workshops.
This year’s festival asks ‘What’s your story?’, exploring the theme of looking forward/looking back, and inviting artists to imagine the shape of the world in time to come as well as reflect on memories and moments that have shaped who they are today.
The programme is split into four key strands, with performances and events by young artists, for young audiences, created in schools and by emerging creatives.
Aberdeen Performing Arts Chief Executive Sharon Burgess said: “Light the Blue is all about placing young and emerging creatives in the spotlight, opening doors, creating space and empowering new voices.
“We’re passionate about placing young people front and centre, and the Playground performance literally does just that – taking over the heart of the city centre to give these young performers the space and freedom to play, discover and perform.
“This year, while we are celebrating 120 incredible years of His Majesty’s Theatre and looking forward to its bright future, Light the Blue is the purest example of our mission at Aberdeen Performing Arts to make the arts more accessible for all.
“And just as important as all that, it’s 13 days of joy and fun, so join us for the celebrations where we ignite the spark for the future of our creative landscape.”
Light the Blue Creative Producer, Jordan Blackwood said: “This year’s Light the Blue is all about looking forward and looking back, inviting artists to play, have fun and explore the theme by imagining what the future may hold as well as reflecting on their past.
“There’s so much in store and ways to get involved. The majority of our programme connects to the theme in some way, whether you want to be in the spotlight performing, taking part in a workshop or activity, networking with like-minded people and groups or just sitting back, enjoying the show and soaking up the atmosphere. Light the Blue is for everyone, not just for young people. It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable 13 days and we hope to have as many people as possible coming along to join us.”
Throughout the festival audiences and participants will be invited to explore the theme in different ways. Highlights include Boys Don’t Dance at the Lemon Tree on Saturday, June 6.
Commissioned by Imaginate in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, Boys Don’t Dance is a poignant dance theatre show by acclaimed disabled director, choreographer and dancer Marc Brew, reflecting on his journey as a boy who defied society’s expectations to embrace his love for dance. The show will feature a curtain raiser performed by young disabled and non-disabled dancers from across the region.
On Sunday, June 7 Union Terrace Gardens will once again take centre stage alongside the nearby His Majesty’s Theatre as the popular Light the Blue Family Arts Day returns, inviting
those aged 0-12 and their families to spend the day taking in an exciting line-up of pop-up and interactive performances, arts activities, live music, sports, food, backstage tours and inspirational experiences for all the family, from 12pm – 4.30pm.
Over 200 young and professional performers will provide entertainment throughout the day, with other activities on offer including family-friendly backstage tours of the iconic His Majesty’s Theatre, arts and crafts and drop-in sports activities.
Family Arts Day will culminate with over 100 dancers from Citymoves Dance Agency performing across Union Terrace Gardens before Aberdeenshire Instrumental Music Service's Firesnake bring things to a close with their headline performance.
A showcase from young musicians hosted by the Benedetti Foundation will take place over Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7. The Benedetti Foundation’s four orchestras of different ages and stages will work on a selection of new music alongside some well-known pieces with the Benedetti Foundation's tutor and ambassador team. Focussing on school-age musicians, participants will have the chance to explore playing with expression, storytelling, sound production, freedom, improvisation, physical and mental wellbeing and understanding the context of the music, as well as delving into specific technical challenges.
On Saturday, June 13 a city-wide Takeover involving local youth groups from across Aberdeen city, shire and wider Scotland will see dance, theatre and music performances taking place in unusual spaces from band stands to shopping centres, from 1pm onwards. Each location will feature a number of acts before moving onto the next stop on the trail, with the full schedule to be announced soon.
An installation running at the Music Hall throughout the duration of Light the Blue will be a free interactive sculpture playground open to people of all ages. Inspired by movement and powered by play, Ray Downie’s Play Space will feature a Kinetic Wave Machine, Inflating Seesaw, Bottle Marimba, and a Modular Music Box. Alongside this will be a series of free workshops including dance, imaginative play and zero waste instrument making.
The grand finale will see Light the Blue culminate with the Big Gig on Sunday, June 14 in the beautiful surroundings of the Music Hall. This year’s Big Gig will feature performances from SC&T Youth, Big Noise Torry, Aberdeen City Music Service, Aberdeenshire Music Service, Sound, and the Universities Folk & Trad Society, with behind-the-scenes footage captured by NESCol Film and TV Department students.
The wider programme features showcases of new professional work by early career artists, shows for babies and teenagers, exhibitions which will evolve throughout the festival, large-scale schools performances, bold new youth-led work, tours, workshops and lots more for all ages.
Tickets are on sale now, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.