Welcome to your latest IN Touch newsletter
December is almost here, we have had the first dusting of snow... and now we can get ready for a blizzard of entertainment with not one, but three fantastic pantos bringing light and laughter to Aberdeen’s city centre.
We are so lucky to have so much talent offering this trio of brilliant shows for all the family that not only celebrate the festive season but also our local community – not to mention our thriving cultural sector.
Aberdeen Performing Arts, Aberdeen Arts Centre and The Tivoli are vital in weaving the rich tapestry of theatre, music, comedy, dance and visual arts that mark out the north-east as one of the brightest lights in Scotland’s arts landscape.
And those lights shine brighter than ever during panto season, with Sleeping Beauty at His Majesty’s, Rapunzel at the Arts Centre and Beauty and The Beast at The Tivoli.
All three will bring joy and laughter to Aberdeen audiences – and every one of them will send fans home with huge smiles on their faces and full of the Christmas spirit.
And these shows are a real gift for the city centre, too, bringing families and visitors into the city in the coming weeks with many of them making a night of it, having a meal before the show in one of Aberdeen’s great restaurants, a drink in one of our welcoming bars, and possibly staying over in one of our fine hotels.
I hope those heading to any of these three joyful productions will also take in the bright lights and vibrancy of Aberdeen Christmas Village, as well as the unique atmosphere of Curated in the Quad festive market, with its talented local creatives and producers.
Panto season is a gift not just for families and theatre fans but also for the city centre itself.
It is also a reminder of how lucky we are to have such a wealth of artistic, creative and visionary people working in our theatres and cultural venues working so hard, all year round Panto might be for Christmas but the arts – and the benefits they bring to the people, community and economy of Aberdeen – are for life.
Best wishes,
Adrian Watson, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Inspired
Stories
Aberdeen’s panto season is here… oh, yes it is!
A trio of magical treats will make Aberdeen sparkle even more this Christmas as the curtain goes up on the Granite City’s panto season from this weekend.
With Sleeping Beauty at His Majesty’s, Rapunzel at Aberdeen Arts Centre and Beauty and The Beast at The Tivoli, fans of fun-packed, family-friendly festive treats will be spoiled for choice for the coming weeks.
The top shows will be enchanting for the city centre too, with many families and fans having a meal out before the show – with some even making an overnight stay of it.
You can read more about these great pantomimes here.
Read more about the story here.
Top creative ready to bring extra shine to Curated in the Quad
Roelene Lawtie is the talent behind Curiously Charmed, producing delightfully elegant and quirky jewellery.
She is one of the many stallholders bringing unique goods and gifts to Curated In The Quad, the very special festive market being staged by Aberdeen Inspired and Charlie House, in aid of the north-east charity.
We caught up with Roelene who told us about the special pieces Curiously Charmed will be bringing to the market – including her signature real dried flowers set in resin and her seasonal “ugly Christmas sweater” jewellery.
You can watch our video chat with Roelene above. She will be at Curated in The Quad every weekend until Saturday, 23rd December. You can follow Curiously Charmed on Instagram and Facebook.
See the full stallholder line-up for each week here.
Your chance to win a £500 Aberdeen Gift Card
Aberdeen Inspired has joined forces with Union Square to give you the chance to win a £500 Aberdeen Gift Card.
This glittering prize will give you the opportunity to go on a festive shopping spree at almost every store in Union Square.
Whether it’s to get kitted out for your Christmas night out, buy thoughtful gifts for your loved ones or go on a dining date night, this is the perfect way to get into the spirit of this special season.
And using Aberdeen Gift Card for all your festive needs helps to boost the Granite City by shopping local.
For your chance to win this sensational prize, look out for a special social post from @unionsquareaberdeen on Friday 1st December, like it, tag a Christmas shopping chum and be sure to be following @abdnisnpired and @unionsquareaberdeen
Good luck – and fingers crossed for a very Merry Christmas.
Come and enjoy the brilliant Christmas spirit in the heart of Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Centre is looking brilliant after a triumphant switch on of the Granite City’s Christmas Lights and Tree.
It was wonderful to see thousands of people flocking along Union Street for the festive, family-fun parade at the weekend, led by Aberdeen Lord Provost, Dr David Cameron and the Mayor of Stavanger Mrs Sissel Knudsen Hegdal.
Not only did Union Street burst into glorious, twinkling colour for the Christmas season, so did Union Terrace Gardens.
So, if you want to get into the Christmas spirit, head into the city centre to see the wonderful lights, the fabulous Aberdeen Christmas Village and the simply superb Curated In The Quad festive market. Watch our video above to get a taste of the Christmas lights and decorative displays now in Aberdeen.
Planning a night out at the weekend? Take the night bus home
Stagecoach Bluebird continue their weekend night buses from midnight to as late as 4am on Fridays and Saturdays until 15 January.
Get home safely from midnight into the early hours, departing at Union Square with buses serving many locations throughout the city, as well as major north-east towns such as Stonehaven, Portlethen, Banchory, Westhill and Ellon. Customers can travel to any stop along the route. Cash and contactless payments accepted with fares ranging from £6 to £9.
The night buses will support the recovery of Aberdeen’s night-time economy, encouraging more people to enjoy the city’s restaurants, bars and other venues by offering a safe way home for revellers and hospitality workers.
Full timetables and further information can be found here.
Festive fun for all as Aberdeen's Christmas Challenge Sculpture Trail is launched
Why not follow Aberdeen’s Christmas Challenge Sculpture Trail to get in the festive spirit from this Friday?
The 12 wooden sculptures will be dotted across the city centre – each with a QR code that opens to festive characters when scanned. Finish all the challenges, complete the trail, then bag yourself a Christmas treat.
Download the Sculpture Trail map here.
You can find out more here.
Meet The Levy Payers: Kenny's Music Aberdeen
Hitting all the right notes with Aberdeen’s musicians and venues, Kenny’s Music is at the very heart of the Granite City.
Situated on the historic Green, this treasure trove of instruments and information aims to be more than just a shop, but also a hub for the music community, said sales assistant Ramsay Clark.
We caught up with Ramsay to find out why Kenny’s Music is so in tune with customer needs, what the plans are for the next 12 months – and where to find coffee “to die for” in Aberdeen.
Read Ramsay's full interview here.
Wish to be featured in a coming Meet the Levy Payers interview? Email Scott.begbie@aberdeenspired.com
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