Cardboard Carnival - The Carnival of the Animals
2024-05-26 14:30 UTC | Tullynessle & Forbes Hall, Suie Road, Alford, Aberdeenshire, AB33 8QN, United Kingdom
Trunk, Tail, Ears or Wings?
Carnival creates itself from all sorts of things!
This is “Carnival of the Animals”, but not as we know it. Dissected for body part potential to create the “ultimate animal”, we take inspiration from the music by Camille Saint-Saëns, a little help from Charles Darwin and a whole lot of cardboard to mash up a show full of puppet possibility.
Inspiration and delight for everyone from 4 to 104.
With their own inimitable style Lempen have taken the fantastic music by Camille Saint-Saëns, and an exploration of the material of cardboard, to make a fun, visual production with no text, refreshingly focused on the simple magic of puppetry to leave audiences inspired by both the animal theatricality of the music and the creative potential of the simple cardboard box.

Coppers & Gold
2024-05-25 19:30 UTC | Johnshaven Village Hall, Mid Street, Johnshaven, Montrose, Angus, DD10 0HB, United Kingdom
Coppers and Gold!

A double bill of short comedies from veteran performers Kate Stafford and Nicholas Collett, based on the infamous Brinks-Mat robbery of 1983 when £26 million was stolen and never recovered.

‘Coppers’ is set in a fictional Home Office, where the Minister and the Chief of Police grapple with the embarrassment of having rings run round them by a criminal gang. How to manage the press and huge public interest in the heist, and pressure from the Prime Minister who wants instant results? Political speeches go horribly wrong, press conferences descend into chaos and the secrets which they have been hiding for years threaten to reveal themselves with hilarious consequences.

The second part of the evening is ‘Gold!’, a sharp new comedy with a big heart and loads of cracking pop hits from the 1980s. Julie and Dave are a normal suburban middle-aged couple living a quiet life but hiding a big secret: a huge stash of gold bars stolen from some very bad men four decades ago.

Now their daughter wants an expensive Instagram-worthy wedding, and the elderly gangsters are out of jail and looking for their gold. What are they going to do?

Behold Ye Ramblers
2024-05-25 19:30 UTC | Aberdeenshire
From the voices of ramblers and campaigners to the songs and poetry inspired by past and current struggles, “Behold Ye Ramblers” is a new play about The Clarion newspaper and the organisations formed by its readership, including the famous rambling club, The Sheffield Clarion Ramblers. Along with the Clarion Cyclists, these early Edwardian pioneers promoted healthy outdoor pursuits, organising expeditions across open moors and mountains whilst campaigning for the right to roam, bringing them into conflict with landowners’ hunting and shooting activities and laws that prioritised private property over the wellbeing of others.

The Moira Monologues & More Moira Monologues Double Bill
2024-05-25 19:00 UTC | Woodside Fountain Centre, Marquis Road, Aberdeen, AB24 2QY, United Kingdom
The Moira Monologues
Meet Moira Bell, cleaner, single mother, and the hardest woman in Falkirk. Whether defending her wee dog Pepe from the local rottweiler, attempting to seduce a teacher, or belting out Diana Ross for the Scotia karaoke night, Moira is hilarious, hypnotic, frightening and heart-warming company.
Based on the stories and characters Alan encountered growing up in the Hallglen area of Falkirk, where The Moira Monologues first premiered, Moira, her long-suffering pal Babs, her neighbour (Bawface), her laddies (they’re gid laddies, but they canny take their hash) and her wee dug Pepe, have left audiences all over the country weak with laughter.

Moira Monologues 2 – More Moira Monologues
Moira’s back in this Fringe First-winning sequel. She’s a gran, but still delivering home truths about cleaning posh folk’s hooses, meeting her estranged sister, and the return of her ex.

Written and performed by Alan Bissett
Directed by Sacha Kyle

Coppers & Gold
2024-05-24 19:30 UTC | Braemar Village Hall, 33 Mar Road, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YL, United Kingdom

The Moira Monologues 3: Moira in Lockdown
2024-05-24 19:00 UTC | Alvah Parish Hall, Alvah, Aberdeenshire, AB45 3XA, United Kingdom
In this third and final instalment of what is now The Moira Trilogy, Falkirk’s hardest woman, Moira Bell, faces her toughest challenge yet: surviving a pandemic with only vodka, fags and her BFF Babs on Zoom. Take that, Bear Grylls!
Journey through the highs and lows of lockdown with myself, writer-performer Alan Bissett, returning as Moira, as she lusts after Joe Wickes, rages at Cummings and grows her own weed (might as well, seeing as the f**kin world’s ending, eh Babs?). She’s ‘the most charismatic character to appear on a Scottish stage in a decade’(The Scotsman) but this time she canny even leave the hoose!

Written and Performed by Alan Bissett
Directed by Sacha Kyle

Fifi la Mer & Oliver Wilby - Let Us Take You to Paris
2024-05-11 19:30 UTC | Portgordon Village Hall, Cross Street, Portgordon, Buckie, Moray, AB56 5QW, United Kingdom
Fifi La Mer and Oliver Wilby Present a unique, brand-new show that will take you on a journey through 100 years of French music, from Offenbach to Gainsbourg.
The show features the dulcet tones of Fifi on accordion and voice, and the talents of Oliver Wilby on clarinet, members of the saxophone family and accordion.
Together, they will transport you to ” the City of Lights “with their repertoire of musical gems and along the way, you will get to enjoy tales of mystery, romance and heartache that we so often associate with Paris.

Fifi la Mer & Oliver Wilby - Let Us Take You to Paris (Relaxed Performance)
2024-05-10 19:30 UTC | The Phoenix Centre, Newton Dee Village, Bieldside, Aberdeen, AB15 9DX, United Kingdom

Fallen Leaves
2024-05-09 19:00 (Europe/London) | MacRobert Memorial Hall, The Square, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, AB34 YL, United Kingdom
In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance in a karaoke bar. However, their path to happiness is beset by obstacles – from lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and a charming stray dog.
Watch Trailer Here
Information
Language: Finnish with English subtitles
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Starring: Alma Pöysti, Jussi Vatanen, Janne Hyytiäinen, Nuppu Koivu, Alina Tomnikov, Martti Suosalo

Love Sarah
2024-04-28 19:30 (Europe/London) | Aberdeenshire
A young woman wishes to fulfil her mother’s dream of opening her own bakery in Notting Hill, London. To do this, she enlists the help of an old friend and her grandma.
Watch Trailer Here
Information
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Genre: Drama
Director: Eliza Schroeder
Starring: Celia Imrie, Bill Paterson, Shannon Tarbet, Shelley Conn, Rupert Penry-Jones, Grace Calder

Coppers & Gold
2024-04-28 19:30 UTC | Kemnay Village Hall, 8 Aquithie Road, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, AB51 5SS, United Kingdom

Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell
2024-04-28 19:00 UTC | Forglen Hall, Forglen, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB53 4JL, United Kingdom
Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell are carving out a name for themselves with their unique style, rooted in Quebecois traditional music fused with songs from around the British Isles and North America. Their creative choices and syncopated melodic rhythms are a testament to their talent and great synergy. These multi-instrumentalists and vocalists are making music that is thoughtful, conscious, and driven. They excite, motivate, inspire, comfort, and spread love and joy to all those that hear them.
Arthur Coates is an acclaimed UK award-nominated musician who began playing the Violin at the age of 7. He later attended the Aberdeen City Music School where he studied Violin and Piano. Arthur eventually found his calling for Quebecois traditional music which he continues to chase. He released his debut solo album, Focus, in June 2019, a project that heavily featured original material.
Kerran Cotterell is an energetic and melodic Guitar player who leans on his vast and varied musical experience to create timeless works of art that are refreshingly unique but are still deeply grounded in traditional folk music. He has garnered plaudits having performed on the main stage of the Cambridge Folk Festival, as well as the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.
Together, Arthur and Kerran produce a versatile mix of sound through instrumentals and song featuring various instruments, including Fiddle, Guitar, Bouzouki and Feet Percussion. They create a sound that is often surprising to the ear but still remains true to the roots of traditional music.
New Album ‘Music for Cows’ (2024)
Arthur and Kerran’s new album ‘Music for Cows’ is set for release in January 2024. While some tracks take a clean, modern sound and carve elegant, crystalline structures that shimmer and dance in the light of contemporary trad, others hop aboard the blues train and take a whistle-stop tour of the Quebecois traditional music line. Their songs range from those which are complexly introspective and enigmatic, to those which exude joy and an energy sure to get feet tapping and crowds singing. Arthur and Kerran have created an album that takes every bit of their musicality and moulds it together into an unforgettable, unique monument of their musical partnership.

Coppers & Gold
2024-04-27 19:30 UTC | New Deer Public Hall, Church Crescent, New Deer, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB53 6WD, United Kingdom

Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell
2024-04-27 19:30 UTC | Glenlivet Public Hall, Bridgend of Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Moray, AB37 9BX, United Kingdom

Shylock
2024-04-20 19:30 UTC | The Little Theatre, Nairn, King Street, Nairn, Moray, IV12 4NP, United Kingdom
Explore the tragic, funny and often unbelievable life of fiction’s most famous Jew in this acclaimed theatre production that has toured over 50 countries.
Written and performed by Gareth Armstrong, and directed by Frank Barrie, this is a play which explores the world of Shakespeare’s most controversial character, Shylock from the Merchant of Venice. The play examines religious and racial intolerance, the history of plays in performance and, above all, celebrates the richness of Shakespeare’s language.
Gareth, who has played leading roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in the West End and at Shakespeare’s Globe, first performed Shylock at the 1997 Edinburgh Fringe, receiving astonishing reviews in the national press and 5 Stars from the Festival critics.
Over the following 10 years Shylock won awards touring all over the world from Stratford-upon-Avon to off-Broadway.

Shylock (Relaxed Performance)
2024-04-19 19:30 UTC | The Phoenix Centre, Newton Dee Village, Bieldside, Aberdeen, AB15 9DX, United Kingdom

The Sand Dragon
2024-04-14 14:30 UTC | Aberdeenshire
While on holiday Edie and her Daddy find a magical pebble on the beach that can grant you one wish. Can you guess what Edie wished for? Well why not find out by watching Theatrix Arts perform this magical story with songs and music, loads of puppets, changing scenery, and a magic trick or two.
Then meet the puppets and create your very own Sand Dragon Puppet. The performance and workshop is suitable for Families and Children aged 4 +
There is an optional puppet-making workshop after the event. There is a small charge of £1 per child for the workshop, payable on the day (limit of one puppet per child).

The Sand Dragon
2024-04-13 14:00 UTC | Aberdeenshire
While on holiday Edie and her Daddy find a magical pebble on the beach that can grant you one wish. Can you guess what Edie wished for? Well, why not find out by watching Theatrix Arts perform this magical story with songs and music, loads of puppets, changing scenery, and a magic trick or two?
Then, meet the puppets and create your very own Sand Dragon Puppet.

The Sand Dragon
2024-04-12 14:30 UTC | Aberdeenshire
While on holiday Edie and her Daddy find a magical pebble on the beach that can grant you one wish. Can you guess what Edie wished for? Well why not find out by watching Theatrix Arts perform this magical story with songs and music, loads of puppets, changing scenery, and a magic trick or two.

Wonka
2024-04-10 13:30, 2024-03-24 18:00 (Europe/London) | Aberdeenshire
Willy Wonka – chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time – is proof that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.
Watch Trailer Here
Information
Running Time: 117 Minutes
Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Director: Paul King
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Grant, Paterson Joseph, Olivia Colman, Tom Davis

A Haunting in Venice
2024-03-31 19:30 (Europe/London) | Aberdeenshire
Celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot, now retired and living in self-imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.
Watch Trailer Here
Information
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Director: Kenneth Brannagh
Starring: Kenneth Brannagh, Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan

Beachcomber Stories.... Just in Case
2024-03-30 15:00 UTC | MacRobert Memorial Hall, The Square, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, AB34 YL, United Kingdom
Something for everyone, young and old in these short, perfect pieces of theatre. Inside each case lives a story, Mermaids, Beachcombers, Kings and Crocodiles……….. A lovely magical show for all ages who love a story. Excellent puppetry and storytelling from this well-known Scottish Puppet Company.

You can watch a trailer here – Beachcomber Stories Just in Case

Beachcomber Stories... Just in Case
2024-03-29 14:30 UTC | New Deer Public Hall, Church Crescent, New Deer, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB53 6WD, United Kingdom

Shoplifters
2024-03-27 19:00 (Europe/London) | MacRobert Memorial Hall, The Square, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, AB34 YL, United Kingdom
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them.
Watch Trailer Here
Information
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Starring: Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, Mayu Matsuoka, Kairi Jo, Miyu Sasaki, Kirin Kiki

Pibroch
2024-03-20 19:30 UTC | Johnshaven Village Hall, Mid Street, Johnshaven, Montrose, Angus, DD10 0HB, United Kingdom
How does it feel to find oneself on a ‘burning platform’ with a pressing need for change but limited options? Pibroch, is a multimedia theatre production which explores parallels between the Climate Emergency and the Piper Alpha Disaster in 1988.
Created by Aberdeenshire-based writer and artist, John Bolland, this exciting new production uses words, live music and striking visual imagery to represent the personal and social experiences of Piper Alpha survivors and their relationship to the challenges each of us face in a warming world.
Co-directed by Mark Thomson, former Artistic Director at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh, Pibroch is crafted by an outstanding team of theatre professionals. John Bolland’s words are complemented by Fraser Fifield who provides live
musical accompaniment to the performance.

Miss Nobodies
2024-03-10 19:00, 2024-03-09 19:30 UTC | Aberdeenshire
A century of women’s stories brought to life by Black Liver; nominated Best Comedy, Best New Writing, Best Production; ‘Highly recommended’ (Buxton Fringe).
You’re in an ironmongers shop in Britain in 1919; then, as you look around, 100 years pass by. Let Ruth Cockburn and Keith Carter take you through a century of stories; the talkie movies of the ‘20s and the video nasties of the 80’s, the start of 50’s Skiffle and the birth of 90’s Britpop, class struggles in the ‘60’s and racial tension in the ‘70’s. Playing a host of characters, from the tragic to the comical to the lyrical and the animal, their stories, sketches, songs and verse, (there’s even a prize-winning competition in the interval), will have you laughing, crying and singing up to the present day.
This two-hander play takes us through the history of the last 100 years in a shop in a Lancashire town. This funny, poignant and heart-warming story will resonate with all ages and will make you think about what the next 100 years will hold for us. Miss Nobodies was inspired by outreach done online and in the community of Great Harwood alongside research into local history and prominent figures of Lancashire. One such person is Ethel Carnie Holdsworth. A writer that worked in the mills in the early part of the last century. She is cited as the first working-class, female novelist in the UK and parts of her poetry are used throughout the play to punctuate the story. The show mixes poetry, storytelling and music, to tell the story of a local shop spanning 100 years from 1919 to present day. Telling of the women that have made up the shop’s history, whilst also showing how the lives of women have changed over the last century.

Directed by Debs Newbold

Arthur Coates & Kerran Cotterell
2024-03-09 19:30 UTC | Kemnay Village Hall, 8 Aquithie Road, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, AB51 5SS, United Kingdom

Four Magicians
2024-03-09 19:00 UTC | Woodside Fountain Centre, Marquis Road, Aberdeen, AB24 2QY, United Kingdom
Four Magicians brings together four of Scotland’s top magical entertainers for an evening of wonder and illusion.
Appearing on stage for the first time together, Smith & Burns, Eoin Smith and James Dickson – each an award-winning magician in their own right – present an ensemble magic show that takes the audience on a rollercoaster of stunning magic, big laughs and plenty of surprises along the way.
Minds will be read. Laws of nature will be defied. Dad jokes will be told.

About Smith & Burns
Fifth Dimension’s Smith & Burns are Ivor Smith and Jeff Burns. Their magic has taken them around the world – from Singapore to Las Vegas and Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle. Entertaining at corporate and private events, they captivate and inspire audiences. Combining humour, sleight of hand, mind reading, illusion and lots of audience participation, they bring their unique form of madness to the stage with style, sophistication and the occasional hiccup. They are also world-renowned presenters delivering magical keynote speeches on safety, leadership and working together at high profile business events and conferences.

About Eoin Smith
Eoin Smith is a multi-award-winning magician based in the north east of Scotland. Everyday items become objects of wonder in Eoin’s hands, in an act packed with original magic, quirky humour, mind reading and demonstrations of skills that cannot be explained. Eoin’s performances have taken him across Scotland to five-star hotels, comedy and cabaret clubs, and beyond – including the stage of the Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen. He appeared twice on Live at Captain Tom’s – a live online TV show – as the only non-musical act in the show’s history.

About James Dickson
James is a designer of magic. Everything he performs has been created or developed by him. His interest in magic goes beyond traditional performance and he seeks to turn impossibility into art. Beyond magic, James writes short comedic songs and creates hand-drawn artwork (all with varying degrees of appropriateness). In performance, he combines his creative passions to deliver his own unique style.
