Former Aberdeen Student Show leads reunite to have the 'Time of their Life'
A record-breaking number of students have auditioned for Aberdeen Student Show’s forthcoming production of Dirty Danestone.
Over 80 students from Aberdeen University, Robert Gordon’s University and NESCOL have registered to audition for the charity show which is being produced by former castmates.
The duo starred opposite each other ten years ago, in the smash hit student show, Mary Torphins.
The popular show, which was performed at His Majesty’s Theatre in 2012, saw Rhona Smith and Alasdair Corbett play the north-east’s answer to Disney’s Mary and Bert.
The show, which raised nearly £60,000 a decade ago, stemmed one of student show’s most iconic anthems, Aye, Aye, Fit Like - inspired by the show stopping Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
The pair now lead the production team as director and music director respectively, with Corbett making his directorial debut in Aberdeen.
This year's show is a Doric parody of your favourite dance movies and musicals, in which, a local loon with two-left feet falls head over heels for Aberdeen’s own duncing queen.
At a brand new staycation resort down on the River Don, he’ll do anything to get closer to her, but he won’t get very far if their pushy dance mams have anything to do with it…
On his new role, Alisdair explained: “I was absolutely over the moon when I was asked by Alex Brown, this year’s administrator, to direct student show.
"Very quickly I knew I wanted to work with Rhona, who was not only my leading lady ten years ago – but has since become a dear friend.”
Joining the duo is assistant director, Kyle Yeats who was also last involved in student show in 2012, and choreographer, Sarah Smith who was inspired to first take part as a student, after sitting in the audience of Mary Torphins.
Alasdair continued: “Student show has a long history of production teams being former cast members, and I knew I wanted to have this for my team. I think it adds a real strength to the production as we have all stood in the cast’s (dancing) shoes before.
"Not only that but we’ve gone on to remain lifelong friends – on and offstage!”
The 2022 show which marks 101 years of the Aberdeen institution, has added an extra challenge, as unlike the 100 years before it, this year’s production has had just six months to prepare, unlike the usual 12-month period.
Last year’s Freezin’, which raised almost £115,000 for local charities was the first show to be performed back on stage at His Majesty’s Theatre after the pandemic.
However, its’ late-summer schedule has meant that the 2022 show needed to make up for lost time and get it back on schedule for its traditional spring show.
Auditions for the show started on Thursday evening, with the remaining students set to audition on Sunday morning. The production team was overwhelmed with the response, with over 83 local students registered to take part.
“There is no memory in recent times of auditions hitting this kind of number," he said.
"Certainly not in the past ten years.
"We’ve been bowled over by the appetite to get involved and after seeing some of the talent earlier this week, we now can’t wait to start rehearsals!”
Tickets are now on sale for Dirty Danestone which will run at His Majesty’s Theatre from April 20 - 23.
Tickets can be bought from Aberdeen Box Office and are priced at £20 - £30.
