NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND AND ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT
GRANITE SOUND and GRANITE THEATRE
Free radiophonic, GPS-triggered sound walk and celebratory pop-up street theatre performances to be unleashed across Aberdeen city centre
Taking place Saturday 7th + Sunday 8th November and Saturday 14th + Sunday 15th November 2015
Headline sponsor: Deloitte
Supported by Aberdeen Inspired, Arts & Business Scotland, Balmoral Group, Mackie’s of Scotland and Creative Scotland
Produced in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts, ACT Aberdeen, Citymoves Dance Agency, Sound Festival, Station House Media Unit and University of Aberdeen Music
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TICKETS are now available to book for Granite Sound, a free, guided, city centre soundwalk that immerses audience members in the sounds of Aberdeen past, present and future.
The first event to take place as part of the National Theatre of Scotland and Aberdeen City Council’s Granite project, Granite Sound invites participants on an unique 50-minute walking tour of the city’s streets, during which a specially created soundscape of music, poetry, stories and everyday sounds is delivered through headphones, triggered by GPS at various points along the way.
Also part of the city’s innovative Sound festival programme, the event has been designed by Aberdeen-based sound artists, Pete Stollery and Suk-Jun Kim, with students from the University of Aberdeen’s MMus Sonic Arts programme, and features specially composed music by Phillip Cooke and texts and poems by local writers Wayne Price, Helen Lynch, Sheena Blackhall, Hazel Hutchison and Michael Brown.
Places can be booked now via graniteaberdeen.com for timeslots at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm on both Saturday 7th or Sunday 8th November.
On Saturday 7th November, the starting and headphone collection point on is the Belmont Cinema and the finishing point is Walker Street.
On Sunday 8th November, the starting point is Mercat Cross on Castlegate and the walk finishes at Wellington Road.
The following weekend sees a series of free street theatre performances explode into life across the city’s Castlegate, Belmont Street and Broad Street.
Inspired by events and people that have shaped Aberdeen’s history, Granite Theatre presents a pop-up theatrical pageant of legendary figures, unsung heroes and unforgettable events from the city’s past, and also imagines what the future has in store for Aberdeen and its ever-changing population.
Created with and performed by members of ACT Aberdeen’s Senior Youth Theatre and Adult Drama groups and Aberdeen Performing Arts’ Senior Youth Theatre group, three different performances will rotate between the three city centre locations throughout Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November.
The short performances (approx. ten mins) will take place at 11.30am, 12pm, 12.30pm, 2.45pm, 3.15pm and 3.45pm at the Mercat Cross on Castlegate, outside The Priory on Belmont Street and in front of Marischal College on Broad Street.
On Friday 18th and Saturday 19th December, 50 windows across the city centre will shine into life as Granite Video presents footage of everyday Aberdonians sharing some surprising insights into their lives.
Saturday 19th December is also the date for Granite Dance, where dancers, both young and older, from City Moves Dance Agency will entertain pedestrians and Christmas shoppers with performances at a busy city centre location.
In 2016, Granite will culminate in a large-scale theatrical production, to take place within the quadrangle of Marischal College, the world’s greatest grey granite building.
Performances have been scheduled for Friday 31st March, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April 2016.
Further performance and ticket information will be released in early 2016.
Graniteaberdeen.com, a dedicated website for the project, offers people across Aberdeen the opportunity to share their stories and thoughts on what the city means to them.
The site will also feature event information, video, audio and photography created with members of shmu (Station House Media Unit), in response to the project’s themes.
All contributions and material created in the course of the project may find its way into the theatrical grand finale.
GraniteAberdeen.com
#GraniteAberdeen
LISTINGS INFORMATION
GRANITE SOUND
Sat 7 and Sun 8 Nov
Free places available to book at: 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm at graniteaberdeen.com
Duration approx. 50mins
Age guideline: recommended eight-plus
The route is not wheelchair-accessible but the soundtrack will be made available for download at a later date.
The walk takes place outdoors across the city centre – please wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for Aberdeen in November!
Sat 7 Nov
Start and Headphone Collection: Belmont Cinema, 49 Belmont Street, Aberdeen AB10 1JS
Finish: 63 Walker Road, Aberdeen AB11 8DL
Sun 8 Nov
Start and Headphone Collection: Mercat Cross, Castlegate, Aberdeen AB11 5HP
Finish: Wellington Road / Craig Place Aberdeen AB11 5RN
GRANITE THEATRE
Sat 14 and Sun 15 Nov
Free pop-up performances at 11.30am, 12.00am, 12.30pm, 2.45pm, 3.15pm, 3.45pm, at:
Castlegate (at Mercat Cross) AB11 5HP
Belmont Street (outside The Priory) AB10 1JS
Broad Street (in front of Marischal College) AB10 1YS
Performances last approx. ten mins
Suitable for all
GRANITE VIDEO
Fri 18 and Sat 19 Dec
Further details TBC
GRANITE DANCE
Sat 19 Dec
Further details TBC
GRANITE FINALE
Fri 31 Mar – Sun 2 Apr 2016
Further details TBC
National Theatre of Scotland press contacts:
Adam McDougall, press and marketing officer: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9231 M: +44 (0)7738 153157
Emma Schad, press manager: emma.schad@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9016 M: +44 (0)7930 308018
Press images available on request.
ENDS
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NTS contact details…
Contact: Adam McDougall
Phone: 01412279231
Email: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Website: http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
