A MASSIVE, nine-month-long theatre production will take to the streets of Aberdeen later this year. Granite, by the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) will be “the story of Aberdeen, told by the people of Aberdeen”.
The theatre company says that Granite will “explore the city’s rich history, celebrate the character of its citizens and re-imagine its future place in the world”.
Granite will be “the theme and foundation of the project”, says the company.
Granite was quarried for more than 300 years in Aberdeen and shipped all over the world. Many of the city’s buildings are made of the grey stone.
The NTS say the material has “the characteristics of which the people of north-east Scotland are widely held to personify – resilience, grit and robustness, but with an underlying sparkle and charm”.
Its plan for the production is to “dig out and present stories that describe local people’s personal relationships to the city, which connect with the project’s overarching themes of tenacity and poetry”.
Laurie Sansom, artistic director of the NTS, said: “As Scotland’s National Theatre we pride ourselves on playing a significant part in the cultural life of Scotland’s major cities and creating opportunities for communities nationwide to make work with us.
‘‘I am delighted that our Learn team will be co-ordinating this hugely exciting and ambitious cultural project in Aberdeen, working with key partners, agencies and organisations without whose support this wouldn’t be possible.
‘‘I can’t wait to see how Aberdeen chooses to tell its story, and how its people will come together to celebrate this unique and vibrant city.”
From September 2015 to April 2016, the theatre company has hired a crack team of talent to produce performances and events to “bring the city’s streets to life” before a series of large-scale, site-specific performances at Aberdeen’s grand granite building Marischal College.
The piece will be directed by NTS’s associate director Simon Sharkey, and will involve writer Peter Arnott, lighting designer Colin Grenfell, video artist Graeme Roger and designer Becky Minto, who worked on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games ceremonies.
Local organisations Aberdeen Performing Arts, ACT Aberdeen, Citymoves, SHMU and the Sound Emporium Research Group from the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Music have all signed up to take part.
The National Theatre of Scotland and Aberdeen City Council have been in discussions about Granite for years.
Paula Gibson, artistic director of local arts centre ACT Aberdeen, said: “Some time back Louise Baxter, current chair of ACT Aberdeen, and I went to the National Theatre of Scotland in Glasgow with the seeds of an idea to tell the story of the granite industry through the eyes of the people who worked in it.”
Lord Provost of Aberdeen George Adam says: “Working in partnership with the National Theatre of Scotland on the Granite project will provide a fabulous opportunity to tell Aberdeen’s unique story from a range of perspectives.
‘‘The NTS will use their special skills to work with a significant number of individuals and groups in the city, creative and not so creative, so that their stories can be turned into unique theatre experiences.
‘‘Granite will showcase and celebrate the talent already in the city and encourage others to get involved and I am sure that this project will confirm Aberdeen’s place on the cultural map and inspire even greater artistic ambition in the city. It’s a huge opportunity.”
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