Aberdeen Light the Blue 2023 to put youth art in the spotlight
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE Light the Blue 2023 festival is set to dominate the arts world in Aberdeen for much of this week.
Tuesday will see Light the Blue 2023: The World Through My Eyes take place at the Big Sky Studio in the Music Hall. Run by Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Orchard Brae School the event sees the launch of a new installation piece created with pupils from the school and visual artist Jenny Hood, accompanied by live performances by pupils created with drama artist Saffron Gilles.
The World Through My Eyes installation will remain open to the public throughout Light the Blue, exploring how we navigate the world from the perspective of a young person with complex needs.
The event, which gets under way at 1pm, is free but tickets. Tickets can be obtained at www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, by phoning (01224) 641122 or visiting the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Also on Tuesday is Light the Blue 2023: Class Act Aberdeen. Traverse Theatre’s flagship education project, Class Act, has come to Aberdeen for the first time in its 31 year history! This special edition of Class Act on Tour has been supported by Aberdeen Performing Arts and Aberdeen Arts Centre.
The scripts include in the showcase have been written by the young people of Bridge of Don Academy, Bucksburn Academy, Harlaw Academy, St Machar Academy and The Gordons Schools. Each script will be brought to life by an ensemble of professional theatre-makers.
Host venue is the Lemon Tree at 7pm. Tickets £5, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
The next day it is the turn of Light the Blue 2023: Youth Arts Meet Up, an opportunity for organisations and facilitators who work creatively with young people in/around Aberdeen to connect, share ideas and look towards future collaborations.
Following the successful Youth Arts Meet Up in January 2023, this is an informal series of conversations and open space sessions for creative practitioners during Light The Blue 2023. Join in to embrace joined-up thinking and share news on upcoming youth arts activity across the city and beyond.
The event is open to professionals who work creatively with young people in/around Aberdeen – eg delivering drama, dance, music, visual arts, film or other artistic activity. Representatives from organisations and independent practitioners are welcome.
The Music Hall is the place to be for this from 11am to 1pm. Free entry.
That evening over at the Lemon Tree at 7pm enjoy Light the Blue 2023: Fuse #2, a multi-bill showcase of theatre and dance from Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors as well as Citymoves’ Dance Agency’s Fusion Company.
The Fuse strand of events celebrates the creativity of young people across Aberdeen and beyond with multi-bill showcases of new work. Take a seat and enjoy a varied evening of exciting material that puts youth voice centre stage.
This is a free but ticketed event – tickets available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Mahogany Opera will be hosting the Light the Blue 2023: Snappy Operas Showcase on Thursday.
The culmination of the Snappy Operas schools engagement project, it will showcase performances from pupils of Hanover Street School, Gilcomstoun School, Riverbank School and Westpark School. Snappy Operas is Mahogany Opera’s award-winning schools programme, making and performing new mini-operas with primary-aged children. Introduced to all the essential elements of opera – singing, acting and making – in a fun, colourful and bite-size chunk, pupils from across Aberdeen have been working with our team of professional artists since April to stage their 10-minute pieces.
The performances will take place at the Music Hall from 6.30pm in what is a free but ticketed event. These are available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Light the Blue 2023: A Step into the Music Industry, run by Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with North East Scotland College (Nescol) takes centre stage on Friday.
This will be an opportunity for secondary school students to get an insight into stepping into the music industry with a morning of creativity, networking and inspiration.
A Step Into The Music Industry begins with an interactive look at the different creative areas and subjects taught at Nescol, providing a unique opportunity to discover and explore various aspects of the music industry. As the event progresses, visit various stalls featuring music-related businesses, organisations, and services, and connect with industry personnel who can help take your music career to the next level. A Step Into The Music Industry culminates in a live set and Q&A from north-east singer/songwriter Rhona Macfarlane.
A Step Into The Music Industry kicks off at North East Scotland College and rounds up at the Lemon Tree, the event running from 10am to 1pm. This event is open to secondary school groups across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, and is best suited to those in S4-6. To find out more and register your interest, contact jordan.blackwood@aberdeenperformingarts.com
In what is a busy day for the festival, 1.45pm is time for Light the Blue 2023: Original Emerging Artist Spotlight. Be a part of a friendly audience as music students from Nescol take to the stage and perform their hearts out, followed by a friendly panel discussion where industry professionals provide valuable feedback and share their expertise.
Taking place at the Lemon Tree, it is free but ticketed event. Tickets available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
At 6pm in the Lemon Tree it is Light the Blue 2023: Emerge from Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Nescol.
A showcase of new theatre pieces by students and emerging artists, including: We Have Always Existed (Transgender Actors of Aberdeen); The People’s Politics (Nescol Drama); How Many More (Nescol Drama).
Be part of a friendly audience supporting emerging talent from across Aberdeen, with an opportunity to participate in a post-show Q&A.
This is a free but ticketed event, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Light the Blue 2023: New Sounds – Nescol Band Showcase brings the Nescol takeover day to a close with a live band showcase from HND Year 2 music students.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music and networking as you connect with like-minded individuals and music lovers.
Hosting the event is the Lemon Tree from 8pm. Tickets are £5 from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
The Fuse strand of events continues on Saturday with Light the Blue 2023: Fuse #3, a multi-bill showcase of theatre from Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Juniors and Aberdeen Arts Centre’s 12-17s.
It gets under way at the Lemon Tree at11.30am. A free but ticketed event. Tickets available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
That afternoon from 1.30pm-3.30pm at the Music Hall it is Light the Blue 2023: Takeover. The doors to the hall will be thrown open as young people take over the building with an afternoon of pop-up performances, film screenings and more aimed at teenage audiences. Expect theatre, dance, music, film, gaming and more.
Drop in, take a wander and stay for as long as you like!
It is free but ticketed event. Tickets can be obtained from from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Aberdeen Performing Arts, City Moves and Eden Court will come together to present Light the Blue 2023: Fuse #4.
A multi-bill showcase of theatre from Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Intermediates and Seniors, Eden Court’s 14-16 Youth Theatre and Citymoves Dance Agency’s Fusion dance company.
The event features three pieces created with support from Visible Fictions and work created remotely across the Highlands.
Head over to the Lemon Tree for 4.30pm. Free tickets from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Light the Blue 2023: The Big Gig showcasing the breadth and top class musical talent of youth from Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland in the Music Hall.
This fantastic concert will consist of performances from SC&T Youth, Big Noise Torry, the Aberdeen City Music Service, Aberdeen Jazz Youth Group and Orchard Brae Makaton Choir culminating in a spectacular collaborative commissioned performance by young people from all five organisations. Footage of the run up to the event with rehearsals shall be captured and made into a visual film by Station House Media Unit (SHMU) which shall be premiered during the collaborative performance.
The show gets on the road at 7pm with free tickets available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
On Sunday the Royal Scottish National Orchestra brings The Magical Music of Harry Potter to the Music Hall. It forms part of the Light The Blue Youth Arts Festival.
Witches, wizards and muggles alike are sure to enjoy this spectacular concert. You’ll be spellbound by the interval!
So, grab your broom, apparate, or catch the Hogwarts Express for an evening of unforgettable music.
The curtain goes up at 5pm, with tickets £15-£36 from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
There will be soul in the at the Lemon Tree when Mica Miller takes to the stage. Last year saw her release her debut album ‘Heaven Knows’ to critical review and she has quickly become one of the UK brightest new soul stars, picking up Jazz FM’s prestigious Soul Act of The Year 2022 award alongside a nomination for Breakthrough Act of The Year’ and featuring on the front cover of the iconic Blues & Soul Magazine amidst an array of five star album and live reviews and national radio support.
Following two monumental album launch shows in September, including a sold out show at the capital’s prestigious Jazz Café and a special hometown performance filling out the iconic Albert Hall, Manchester, Mica performed at ‘Jazz Voice’ the opening gala of the EFG London Jazz Festival in November at Royal Festival Hall with the backing of esteemed arranger and conductor Guy Barker and the 42-piece Festival Orchestra, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and televised on BBC 4.
Self-written, arranged and produced, the debut album ‘Heaven Knows’ explores themes of human nature, spirituality, love, oppression, inequality and empowerment, drawing inspiration from a plethora of vintage soundscapes, most notably, soul, blues, gospel and jazz.
She will be appearing at the Lemon Tree from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £24.20, available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
Tribute act Rumours of Fleetwood Mac head for the Music Hall on Monday having performed to over 850,000 Fleetwood Mac fans across the world and marked up over 80 million streams on YouTube. Formed back in 1999 Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac is now recognised globally as the finest Fleetwood Mac concert experience and is endorsed by founder ‘Fleetwood Mac’ member Mick Fleetwood.
The show gets under way at 8pm with tickets priced between £34 and £49 from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com, phone (01224) 641122 or visit the box office at His Majesty’s Theatre or the Music Hall.
