Sensational new line up of shows announced at city venues

Blockbuster shows, iconic music, family favourites, and the brightest comedians can all be seen in the Granite City next year as part of a stunning line up of new shows announced by Aberdeen Performing Arts today.

Several smash-hit musicals are making their way to His Majesty’s Theatre in 2020.

Leading the way is the multi-award-winning The Book of Mormon (May 6-23) which sold more than 5600 tickets in the first 24 hours of going on sale earlier this week.

There are first time visits to Aberdeen from the tours of The Addams Family (September 1-5) and Friendsical (July 9-11) and highly anticipated returning productions include MAMMA MIA! (September 22 – October 3), Footloose (June 8-13), and Buddy (April 7-11).

Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Director of Programming and Creative Projects, Ben Torrie said: “2020 will absolutely prove that HMT is the true home of the West End in the north-east with some of the biggest musicals ever created gracing the stage.

"These join a season which already includes fantastic hit shows such as We Will Rock You, Once, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

"These sit alongside top-quality work from Scotland and Aberdeen with Scottish Ballet’s new season, Oor Wullie from Dundee Rep, and a series of local amateur productions kicking off with the 99th annual student show”

Tickets for next year’s iteration of the much-loved annual pantomime go on sale before this year’s show Cinderella has had its first performance.

Beauty and the Beast (November 28, 2020 – January 3, 2021) will contain everything audiences have come to expect from one of Scotland’s leading festive productions.

There are tickets available from as little as £12, great deals for families, groups and schools, stunning special effects and star-casting to be announced.

The new season from national dance company Scottish Ballet will include two of the world’s most popular ballets, Swan Lake (April 16-18) and The Nutcracker (January 20-23, 2021), alongside a stunningly dramatic new production of Sir Kenneth McMillan’s Scandal at Mayerling (October 8-10).

Completing the new line up at HMT are local productions including the annual Student Show Freezin’ (April 25-28), AOC Productions’ Guys and Dolls (June 3-6), productions from the city’s Danscentre and Scott School of Dancing, and a treat for little ones with Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever (August 26-27).

The Music Hall will also be filled with the sound of legends in 2020 with one of the rock world’s biggest names playing the iconic venue.

Paul Weller takes to the famous stage on May 8 sharing the music from his illustrious career plus some brand-new material.

Other highlights include the fantastic BBC Big Band performing The Music of James Bond…and Beyond (February 9) featuring some of the greatest film scores of all time from the longest running film series.

Gigs at the venue include a hotly anticipated visit by alt-rock stars Twin Atlantic (March 4) and a breath-taking performance by King Creosote (March 9) of his soundtrack to From Scotland with Love based on archive film footage.

There will be laughs aplenty with comedy shows from TV funnymen including The Last Leg’s Josh Widdicombe (January 26), multi-talented performer Rob Brydon (April 30) alongside a live band, and the magnetic Rob Beckett (June 5).

Fans of Strictly Come Dancing will be in their element with appearances from Brendan Cole (February 26), Anton & Erin (March 20), and Remembering the Oscars with Aljaz and Janette (April 28).

Ben Torrie added: “The Music Hall has really established itself as a top-class venue once again with a diverse programme of quality performance from rock legends to emerging superstars, fabulous symphony orchestras to intimate roots gigs, and some of the most popular entertainment stars performing today.

"There is no better place to see great music and comedy and 2020 is off to a brilliant start with this new season”.

Tickets for all new shows go on sale to Friends on Thursday, November 21, and on general sale on Tuesday, November 26.

Tickets are available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall or the Lemon Tree.