Aberdeen’s beachfront took centre stage in a nationwide festival this weekend.
National Theatre Scotland’s Futureproof festival arrived in the Granite City on Friday, with a show created by local teens to mark Scotland’s Year of the Young People 2018.
Earlier this year, festival organisers challenged 10 theatre companies to work in conjunction with local young people to create a series of shows that would “stand out from the crowd.”
In Aberdeen, internationally-acclaimed Russian theatre company AKHE set upon retelling the story of Alexander Graham Bell.
Members of AKHE, which was formed in 1989, teamed up with a group of local young people to bring to story behind Bell’s inventions to life.
The performers used Aberdeen’s beach, and the elements surrounding it, to create their unique performance which was attended by hundreds over the course of the weekend.
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Spurred on by high winds on the beach front, the show featured high-flying pyramidal kites and dazzling light illusions in order to mimic the early trials of Bell’s career.
Jane Hamilton, from the National Theatre Scotland, praised the work of the Aberdonians involved in the project.
She said: “It was amazing seeing the show come to life this weekend, and it was made all the more special by the backdrop of Aberdeen’s beachfront.
“The idea to base the show on Alexander Graham Bell was put forward by AKHE and the show was later developed in collaboration with the local young people, and what they came up with was stunning to watch.
“We had put a call out in the Aberdeen community for those interested in taking part and the response was great.
“We got a group of enthusiastic young girls who made up the majority of the cast this weekend.
“When I watched the first show on Friday, it was obvious the girls were absolutely loving the experience, and we hope they will be inspired to do similar in the future.
“The ethos of the entire festival was to encourage young people to take part in something different.”
The final performance of the Futureproof festival will take place in Shetland this weekend.
