Street theatre takes over Aberdeen this summer with Surge
Aberdeen Arts Centre hosts playful free workshops ahead of live performances during Tall Ships weekend
If you’ve ever fancied trying street theatre but never quite found the moment, this summer could be your chance. Aberdeen Arts Centre is teaming up with Surge, a Scottish company known for bold and playful outdoor performance, to host a series of free workshops in July.
Open to those aged 12 and up, the workshops offer a chance to explore physical comedy, improvisation and creative expression in a relaxed, supportive setting. Experience isn’t needed, just a willingness to try something new and have a laugh in good company.
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Open Road presents a screening of Meet the Buchanans, an off-beat documentary about the first Clan Buchanan Chief in over 300 years. With missing historical records, much of the inauguration ceremony is improvised, offering a fresh take on the role of Clans today.
Join director Barbara Orton and Professor Alison Lumsden for a post-screening Q&A. Catch it at Fittie Community Hall on Friday 6 June at 7pm, doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets are £5, pay by card or cash.
Playfulness at the heart of it
Running over two days, the sessions will be led by creative facilitator Leah Christie, who trained in Catalonia at a leading street theatre academy. Leah has previously worked on Surge-led projects in Moray and speaks warmly about what these workshops offer.
“The project is a joy because of the happiness it sparks in both participants and the audience,” she says. “It’s a truly unique and unforgettable experience.”
Surge is known for collaborating with communities across Scotland, creating performances that mix silliness with connection. In Aberdeen, the workshops will lead to live, public performances during the Tall Ships weekend, with 12–17-year-olds performing on Saturday 19 July, and adults taking part on Sunday 20 July.
Tying into wider work
This builds on the Arts Centre’s recent exploration of outdoor performance with its Castlegate Theatre Company, which has been experimenting with street theatre over the past year. Programming and creative director Eve Nicol says it’s exciting to be expanding that work and sharing Surge’s playful approach with Aberdeen audiences.
Each session is limited to 10, keeping things small and focused. That means places will go quickly, but it also helps create a space where people can feel supported to step outside their comfort zone.
There’s a wider context too. The Arts Centre is in the midst of a long-term fundraising effort to secure its future. But for now, these workshops are about movement, imagination and making something unexpected happen in the heart of Aberdeen.
Workshops run 17–18 July at Aberdeen Arts Centre, with performances during the Tall Ships celebrations on 19–20 July. Sign-ups are open now.
