Lemon Tree To Launch New Winter Show For Under-Sixes
Dance, storytelling and live music bring a new Christmas tale to life
It may be the height of (Scottish) summer, but looking forward to this December, the Lemon Tree is set to host A Land Beyond Winter, a new dance theatre piece created for early-years audiences. The story follows two friends living in a place called Winter, where the much-anticipated First Snow is late. Their search takes them beyond the edges of their world into unknown lands, where they encounter surprising creatures and discover the meaning of friendship, home, and hope.
Aberdeen audiences will be the first in Scotland to see A Land Beyond Winter, as the Lemon Tree launches the three-year Wee Ones Winter Commissions programme. The partnership between Aberdeen Performing Arts, Eden Court Highlands in Inverness and Capital Theatres in Edinburgh will see three new festive productions for children tour the country until 2027.
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Building a world for young audiences
Christine Devaney, artistic director of Curious Seed, said: “We are thrilled to be invited to create this exciting new dance theatre show. Collaborating with the venue partners over the next three years through this innovative commissioning model, we look forward to inviting children and families across Scotland to join us on a heartwarming, seasonal adventure.” She is working with designer Karen Tennent, composer Luke Sutherland and dance artist Sky Su to create a world that encourages children to follow a journey, recognise emotions and connect with the characters’ curiosity.
While Aberdeen hosts A Land Beyond Winter first, Inverness will open Bananas for Christmas from Frozen Charlotte, and Edinburgh’s Studio Theatre will welcome Snowy, a tale of a puppy and a snow globe city. All three shows are designed for intimate spaces so children and parents can sit close to the action.
Supporting Scottish theatre-making
The commissions were selected from nearly 60 proposals, showing a strong interest in work for under-sixes. Sharon Burgess, chief executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, said: “We are thrilled to be teaming up once again with Eden Court and Capital Theatres to bring these wonderful, brand new productions to our stages, which are sure to bring so much joy and festive magic to children and their families across Scotland over the next three years. The quality and standard of submissions were incredibly high. We are delighted to be able to support Scottish theatre-making in this way, and we cannot wait to work with the exceptional team at Curious Seed to create A Land Beyond Winter in Aberdeen this festive season.”
For a city where much of the Christmas season is focused outdoors, A Land Beyond Winter offers a unique shared experience. With its blend of movement, design, and music, it aims to provide the youngest theatre-goers with a gentle introduction to live performance, with the story and songs staying with them on the way home.
