Following a string of sell-out performances across Scotland – including five sell-outs at The Pavilion, Glasgow – Up A Close is set to captivate audiences at Aberdeen Arts Centre on Saturday 29th August 2026 with a matinee performance at 2.30pm and an evening performance at 7.30pm.
Brought to the stage by The Kingsman Travelling Theatre Company, this critically acclaimed play, written by Tina Conway and directed by Victor Kennedy, has already won the hearts of audiences with its mix of humour, nostalgia, and emotional depth.
Up A Close tells the story of Joanna, reflecting on her life in her Partick tenement flat when her husband doesn’t come home one night. As she reminisces about her marriage, her children, and growing up in the 1970s, the audience is taken on a journey through family, friendship, and the ups and downs of working-class Glasgow life. From childhood mischief with her best friend Anne Marie to schooldays under the watchful eye of the nuns and dancing up the toon to the Bay City Rollers, Joanna’s story is filled with laughter, poignancy, and pure Glasgow banter.
Described as a play that will make the audience laugh, cry and see themselves in its story, Up A Close is an unforgettable experience for anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling and sharp-witted humour.
Don’t miss this chance to see one of Scotland’s most talked-about productions live in Aberdeen Arts Centre.
For more information and to book your tickets, visit https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/whats-on/up-a-close
Praise for Up A Close:
“A brilliantly written and acted play of tough love, marriage, hope, and laughter” Glasgow Guardian
“A must-see production filled with nostalgia and heart.” Fringe Review
About Aberdeen Arts Centre
Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue in the heart of Aberdeen, operated by registered charity Castlegate Arts Ltd for over a quarter of a century.
For more than 60 years, Aberdeen Arts Centre has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives. In April 2026, Aberdeen Arts Centre appointed Call the Midwife star Laura Main as its official patron.
In May 2025, the centre launched the Save Aberdeen Arts Centre campaign – a three-year, £660,000 fundraising drive to secure its future. Individuals and corporate sponsors can find out more and donate at https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/save-aberdeen-arts-centre.
Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue in the heart of Aberdeen, operated by registered charity Castlegate Arts Ltd for over a quarter of a century.
For more than 60 years, Aberdeen Arts Centre has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives.
In May 2025, the centre launched the Save Aberdeen Arts Centre campaign – a three-year fundraising drive to raise £660,000 to secure its future. Individuals and corporate sponsors can find out more and donate at https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/save-aberdeen-arts-centre.
Aberdeen Arts Centre encompasses a 350-seater auditorium; café bar; flexible spaces for performances, events, exhibitions and meetings; and the Children’s Theatre, opened by Catherine Hollingworth in the 1950s as a pioneering youth theatre (the first of its kind in the UK) and now used as a vital resource for professional artist development.
In Case You Missed it:
For more information, visit www.aberdeenartscentre.com or follow Aberdeen Arts Centre on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @AberdeenArtsCentre.
Individuals and potential corporate sponsors can continue to donate via https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/save-aberdeen-arts-centre.
