The latest season of new shows at His Majesty’s Theatre and The Lemon Tree has been announced, headlined by two award-winning dramatic titles.
Yasmina Reza’s comedy masterpiece, Art, is one of the most successful stage plays of recent decades and comes to Aberdeen in March 2019, twenty-five years after its premiere in Paris. The highly anticipated new stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film, Rain Man, also visits the city His Majesty’s Theatre in the spring season which also includes a critically acclaimed rock musical, a festive treat for young audiences, a local production of a musical classic, and readings from two of poetry’s most respected names.
Having won both the Oliver and Tony Awards for Best Drama Production in the 1990s and having been seen around the world ever since, Art is one of the most successful comedy plays ever produced. This touring production features three of the UK’s most prolific and acclaimed actors when it takes to the stage at His Majesty’s from 25-30 March. This dazzling study of friendship, prejudice and tolerance is brought to life on stage by the talents of Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey, Coronation Street, Chariots of Fire), Oliver-award winning Denis Lawson (Bleak House, New Tricks) and British Comedy award-winning Stephen Tomkinson (The Split, Wild at Heart, BallykissAngel). The play centres around the expensive purchase of an all-white modernist painting, and the baffled, violent and provocative reactions is prompts.
Based on the film which starred Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, Bill Kenwright presents the inaugural Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company production of Rain Man, which won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor for Hoffman.
It tells the story of an abrasive, selfish young wheeler-dealer Charlie Babbitt who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond, an autistic savant, of whose existence Charlie was unaware.
Aberdeen Performing Arts’ chief executive, Jane Spiers, said: “We aim to attract the very best stage plays to the city – stories that will thrill and delight, are thought provoking, and will make audiences laugh and cry. With star-studded casts, top notch writers and fabulous production values, we couldn’t have hoped for better than Art and Rain Man for our Spring season at HMT”.
Also included in today’s announcement is annual festive show for young audiences at The Lemon Tree. The production each year is designed to suit audiences of under 7 and their families and has become a must-see show in recent years. This year, the beautiful, award-winning show, Night Light, will be staged at the city venue from 1-24 December.
It was created by one of Scotland’s leading theatre makers for children and young people, Andy Manley, and Danish company Teater Refleksion. Night Light is an exquisite and captivating show that embraces audiences within a magical universe. It will appeal to both the smallest people in our world and the bigger people who look after them. It recently won the Best Production for Children and Young People at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland. It completes APA’s festive theatrical programme and joins HMT panto Snow White starring Lee Mead and Juliet Cadzow alongside Aberdeen favourites Alan McHugh and Jordan Young which runs from December 1 until January 6.
Jane Spiers added: “Christmas is always an exciting time for us and I’m particularly looking forward to it this year thanks to our star-studded panto line-up at HMT and beautiful family treat at The Lemon Tree”.
Following two critically acclaimed West End runs and a sell-out UK tour, Green Day’s explosive rock musical American Idiot returns to mark the show’s 10th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of the release of the original Grammy award winning album. Winner of two Tony awards and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, it is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world. The show features the music of Greenday with the lyrics and story written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong.
Phoenix Theatre, in conjunction with the children of Phoenix Youth Theatre will present the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof, at HM Theatre from January 23-26 2019. This show is a cornerstone of musical theatre tradition which resonates with audiences worldwide, thanks to its warmth and honesty, and such beloved songs as Matchmaker, Sunrise, Sunset and If I Were a Rich Man.
The new season announcement is completed by two top poets adding their names to the impressive list of writers who have appeared at APA’s Culture Café series, which is currently being hosted at the Belmont Filmhouse. William Letford visits the city on 19 September to demonstrate why he is considered by many to be the next big name in Scottish literature. And multi award-winning writer Robin Robertson returns to read in his hometown for the first time in many years, which is sure to be a date not to be missed by poetry fans in the city.
Tickets for Night Light and Snow White are on sale now, with all other news shows on sale to APA Friends on Thursday, August 9 and for general sale on the following Tuesday, August 14. In addition to priority booking, APA Friends also receive discounts on all shows at His Majesty’s Theatre. To purchase a Friends membership and/or tickets go to aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone on (01224) 641122 or visit the Box Office at HMT and The Lemon Tree.
