International Artists Bring Bold New Work to Aberdeen
Theatre, circus and storytelling take centre stage in a summer packed with surprises.
Aberdeen Performing Arts’ International Season is back this July and August, bringing performers from around the world to His Majesty’s Theatre and the Lemon Tree. Now in its second year, the season presents a curated programme of theatre, circus, dance and music from artists visiting the UK, many of whom are performing in Aberdeen for the very first time.
This city-wide celebration showcases the kind of boundary-pushing work more often seen in Edinburgh or London, offering North-east audiences the chance to experience international performance in an accessible and local setting.
“We are coming back bigger and better this year,” said Sharon Burgess, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, “broadening our horizons and enjoying performances that inspire, entertain and spark curiosity in equal measure.”
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What’s On at His Majesty’s Theatre
Returning to Aberdeen after last year’s powerful Humans 2.0, Australian company Circa brings Wolf to His Majesty’s from 23–26 July. Ten extraordinary performers leap, balance and tear across the stage in a show that explores chaos, wildness and the freedom of being untamed.
Later in the summer, Afrique Cirque by Kalabante arrives from 27–30 August, blending live music, acrobatics and traditional African arts. Accompanied by djembe drums and the Kora, the cast brings energy, joy and agility to a show rooted in cultural expression and modern circus technique.
Lemon Tree Brings Bold, Intimate and Unexpected Shows
At the Lemon Tree, the programme turns playful, personal and occasionally political. Children Are Stinky (27 July) is an award-winning family circus show from Circus Trick Tease, featuring high-level acrobatics, audience participation and plenty of laughs.
Danish company Don Gnu follows with Women in Socks and Sandals (28–30 July), a physical theatre piece exploring what happens when women navigate a world built by men, with quirky stunts, offbeat humour and raw movement.
On 29–30 August, Australian musical comedian Darby James presents Little Squirt, a cabaret-style comedy about sperm donation and queer parenthood. The show explores identity, absurdity and the unexpected challenges of procreation through original songs and storytelling.
The season closes with NIUSIA (31 August), a solo show by writer and performer Beth, who pieces together her grandmother’s Holocaust story through memories, interviews and inherited silences. The result is a personal reflection on family, trauma and cultural identity that resonates well beyond the stage.
Tickets and What’s Next
Several artists featured this year are fresh from successful Fringe runs or rarely seen in the UK outside of major cities, making the International Season a unique chance for local audiences to engage with world-class touring work.
Tickets go on sale to Friends of Aberdeen Performing Arts on Friday 25 April and on general sale Saturday 26 April. More acts are expected to be announced soon. For more, visit the APA website.
