The Studio Theatre is forecast to have a ‘Snowy’ new show in December 2025, followed by two brilliant productions in the next couple of years: 'A Land Before Winter' and 'Bananas For Christmas'.
We have once again joined forces with two of Scotland’s largest cultural organisations to offer a unique, multi-year commission to create and produce three small-scale festive productions for early-years audiences, each to be presented in Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh from 2025 to 2027 – each show rotating to a new venue each year. A panel representing all three organisations has awarded commissions to the following productions:
- Frozen Charlotte present Bananas for Christmas which will open at Eden Court Highlands in Inverness December 2025.
- Curious Seed present A Land Before Winter which will open at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen December 2025.
- Scottish Theatre Producers present SNOWY which will open at Capital Theatres’ Studio Theatre in Edinburgh December 2025
Snowy – Scottish Theatre Producers
Jordan Blackwood and Ross MacKay reunite with Scottish Theatre Producers’ Sarah Gray to bring Snowy to life, following their CATS-nominated production of Treasure Island, and joined for the first time by composer and sound designer Bethany Tennick.
We’re delighted to be hosting Snowy at Studio Theatre in December 2025 and are thrilled for audiences to meet Snowy: a curious little pup with a heart full of adventure. Join her on a heart-warming winter journey to the city inside a snow globe. When a mishap throws the city’s festive celebrations into chaos, Snowy must put things right in a story filled with fun, friendship and a whole lot of snow!
“We are totally thrilled to be working with Capital Theatres, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court to bring our tale of Snowy to children and families across Scotland. To get the chance to tell our story for the next three years is a real privilege. We know Summer has only just begun, but we all can't wait for Winter now!”Sarah Gray, Scottish Theatre Producers
Bananas For Christmas – Frozen Charlotte
Award-winning children’s theatre company Frozen Charlotte, supported by Riff Raff Producing CIC, assembles a creative team that includes director Heather Fulton, dramaturg Brenda Murphy, designer Katy Wilson, composer Greg Sinclair, lighting designer Simon Wilkinson, creative access artist Kirstin Abrahams and performer Lewie Watson. Their show features a cast of banana-loving beach-dwellers who go Bananas for Christmas – because what is Christmas if you don’t have it all? This riotously silly show might see them tangled in the tinsel but we guarantee it will be banana-splittingly funny and full of Christmas spirit.
‘We have put the decorations up already! We’re dizzy with delight to be creating a new Christmas show in partnership with these three amazing venues and we cannot wait to share ‘Bananas for Christmas’ with their family audiences.’Frozen Charlotte
A Land Before Winter – Curious Seed
Award-winning dance theatre company Curious Seed – led by Scottish choreographer Christine Devaney – continues to push the boundaries of dance theatre with emotionally resonant performances that have toured internationally, from Sadler’s Wells to the Sydney Opera House. Their show will be brought to life by a stellar creative team featuring designer Karen Tennent, composer Luke Sutherland and dance artist Sky Su.
A Land Before Winter is a curious winter adventure; the story follows two friends who live in a place called WINTER waiting patiently for First Snow. A mysterious delay compels them on a journey beyond the edges of their world. Through unknown lands, they face new challenges, encounter surprising creatures, and discover the power of wishing, friendship and home.
“We are thrilled to be invited to create this exciting new dance theatre show. Collaborating with the venue partners over the next three years through this innovative commissioning model, we look forward to inviting children and families across Scotland to join us on a heartwarming, seasonal adventure”Christine Devaney, Artistic Director, Curious Seed
All three productions are commissioned and funded by Eden Court, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres.
Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive, Capital Theatres, said:
“Watching the children’s faces light up with joy and wonder as they experience the magic of theatre is what our mission is all about. Supporting high-quality Scottish work for young audiences is central to our vision, creating and sharing the extraordinary with everyone, and we can guarantee that these wonderful three pieces will do just that!
We’re thrilled to be collaborating once again with our friends Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court on this exciting project. Following the success of our first commissions launched in 2021, one of which won a CATS Award, we are delighted to have been supported by Creative Scotland to make this happen again for our young audiences over the next three years. We can’t wait to welcome the adorable Snowy to our Studio Theatre in Edinburgh this winter and to share the other two wonderful shows with you over the next two years.”
Rebecca Holt, Chief Executive, Eden Court Highlands, said:
“Eden Court is delighted to once again be partnering with our friends at Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres to produce three new productions for children and their families. The quality, ambition and creativity on display in the 58 submissions we received made deciding on the final three a difficult task.
We are excited to open Bananas for Christmas here in December 2025, which looks set to be a joyful production to inspire the next generation of theatregoers. Investment in these three productions is a demonstration of Eden Court’s commitment to investing in artists and audiences, and we are only able to do so due to receiving increased support in Creative Scotland’s recent multi-year funding round, for which we once again express our sincere thanks to Creative Scotland and Scottish Government.”
Sharon Burgess, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Performing Arts, said:
“We are thrilled to be teaming up once again with Eden Court and Capital Theatres to bring these wonderful, brand new productions to our stages, which are sure to bring so much joy and festive magic to children and their families across Scotland over the next three years. The quality and standard of submissions across the board was incredibly high. We are delighted to be able to support Scottish theatre-making in this way, and we cannot wait to work with the exceptional team at Curious Seed to create A Land Beyond Winter in Aberdeen this festive season.”
Studio Theatre
Situated in Potterrow, the Studio Theatre is a contemporary, flexible space that can accommodate a wide range of uses from rehearsals and workshops to small-scale performances and festivals. Find where it is located and what facilities it offers.
