About Us
Aberdeen's
Independent Stage
Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue and registered charity in the heart of Aberdeen, Scotland — delivering a varied programme of theatre, dance, music, spoken word, comedy, film and creative learning events.
For over 60 years, we have been passionate, ever-present supporters of creativity and the performing arts in Aberdeen, and we are proud to champion an approach that emphasises openness, participation, lifelong learning and engagement with a wide range of audiences, artists and communities from across North East Scotland.
With a storied history at our back, we're equally excited about the future — and greatly look forward to welcoming new and returning audiences for more memorable moments, inspiring shows, big nights out and exciting new creative projects.
Our History
The building that is now home to Aberdeen Arts Centre was erected in 1828 as the North Parish Church in the parish of St Nicholas.
Built to accommodate over 1700 parishioners, the building was designed by John Smith — who succeeded Archibald Simpson as City Architect — and its design is similar to St Pancras Church in London. It opened on 19th June 1831 and was in use for over 120 years.
Following its closure in the 1950s, the building reopened as an Arts Centre in 1963. The £53,000 conversion installed a proscenium arch on the first floor and meeting rooms on the ground floor. It was the first venue of its kind in Scotland and, run by the City Council, it served the local community until 1998, when core funding was removed and the threat of closure loomed large.
The Aberdeen Arts Centre Association, led by Annie Inglis MBE, was established to ‘Save the Arts Centre’, and in 1999 Castlegate Arts Limited (CAL) was founded to support the building’s vital ongoing creative activity.
Now, Aberdeen Arts Centre is both an arts venue and an independent charity — and we're dedicated to delivering an accessible and varied programme, providing creative learning opportunities and supporting new artistic voices in North East Scotland.
Meet Our Local Performing Community
We are proud of our local performing community, and all the groups that use our stage on a regular basis.
Local performing groups are at the heart of Aberdeen Arts Centre. Every year, over 35 local performing and community groups bring the venue to life with vibrant theatre, music, and dance productions. These groups not only fill the auditorium with energy and creativity but also provide vital opportunities for people of all ages to build confidence, express themselves, and connect with others. For many performers, Aberdeen Arts Centre is where their creative journey begins.
The Centre offers a professional-standard stage at an affordable price, making it accessible to grassroots talent across the north east. These local groups play a key role in keeping the arts alive in Aberdeen, drawing in thousands of audience members and nurturing a love of performance.
Supporting Aberdeen Arts Centre means supporting these local companies — the lifeblood of the city’s cultural scene.
Meet the Team
Aberdeen Arts Centre's varied programme, Creative Learning and Artist Development programmes, and day-to-day operations are coordinated by a small, dedicated team of theatre professionals.
This core group is supported by the invaluable work of our brilliant Aberdeen Arts Centre volunteers, who ensure everything front of house runs smoothly, including our Café Bar.
Photos kindly provided by the Press & Journal, apart from Sharon Catchpole supplied by Iska Birnie.
Sharon is a highly experienced HR professional and Chartered CIPD member, with over 20 years' experience. Her love of the arts began with childhood ballet and piano lessons and grew during her time as head of HR at Mayflower Theatre. After eight years as a trustee, she recently stepped off the board to become interim executive director at Aberdeen Arts Centre.
Favourite Show: Riverdance
Adrienne has a wonderfully varied background, with experience ranging from marketing and events to legal admin - and even dog grooming! After teaching English in South Korea and travelling widely, she returned home to work across multiple industries before joining the team at Aberdeen Arts Centre. A lifelong musical theatre fan, she’s been performing on our stage for over 12 years with Phoenix Theatre.
Favourite Show: Rent
James has over 15 years' experience in hospitality, working across everything from large-scale events to intimate dining. He started his career in events catering and later moved into the third sector and arts venues, eventually joining Aberdeen Arts Centre. A former competitive dancer, James now enjoys supporting the arts from behind the scenes.
Favourite Show: Les Misérables
Eoin brings over a decade of experience in PR and marketing across Scotland to his role at Aberdeen Arts Centre. A published author, award-winning magician, and former entertainment journalist, he’s deeply embedded in the local cultural scene. Eoin is passionate about telling the stories of artists and performers, as well as the centre itself.
Favourite Show: Les Misérables
Julia has spent most of her career in fundraising, supporting a wide range of causes across health, education, and children’s welfare. She’s thrilled to now be working in the arts - a lifelong passion and long-held career goal. Julia has loved visiting Aberdeen Arts Centre over the years and even had one of her most memorable dates here!
Favourite Show: Hairspray
Leah is a creative facilitator based in Aberdeen and Moray, passionate about community arts and building confidence through theatre. She studied Drama and Performance at Queen Margaret University and leads classes for all ages at Aberdeen Arts Centre. Leah has worked with Surge and Scottish Opera and loves creating inclusive, inspiring theatre experiences.
Favourite Show: West Side Story
Barry leads the technical team at Aberdeen Arts Centre, ensuring every performance is delivered with precision and flair. With extensive experience in live event production, he also owns Granite City Events, providing lighting, sound, video, and staging for various events. Barry's expertise and dedication have helped bring the magic of live theatre to life on our stage for decades.
Favourite Show: Little Shop of Horrors
Meet the Board
Aberdeen Arts Centre is operated by Castlegate Arts Ltd, which is managed by a passionate volunteer board of trustees.
Sharon has a background in health and safety, with extensive experience in leadership, change management, and business resilience - especially in the energy sector. She is a strong advocate for the power of the creative and cultural sector to drive economic and social change. Sharon brings her leadership expertise and passion for the arts to everything she does.
Favourite Show: Six
Erin is a legal director with over a decade's experience in commercial law, contract negotiation, and strategic leadership in energy and subsea. A lifelong supporter of the arts, she trained at The BRIT School and has been connected to Aberdeen Arts Centre since childhood, both as an audience member and performer. Erin is passionate about sustaining the creative community that helped shape her.
Favourite Show: Wicked
Wendy is a Chartered Accountant with a background in senior finance roles across the global oil and gas services sector. Originally from Glasgow, she now lives in Aberdeen and combines her professional expertise with a lifelong love of musical theatre and dance. She takes classes and performs with Danscentre and first connected with Aberdeen Arts Centre through her son’s involvement in Creative Learning classes.
Favourite Show: Singin' in the Rain
Lisa is a chartered HR and organisational development professional with over 20 years' experience across the energy sector, higher education, and the third sector. She’s passionate about the transformative power of grassroots arts and their role in building confidence and creativity. Lisa has a background in Highland dancing and once took to the stage in the Aberdeen Student Show during her uni days.
Favourite Show: West Side Story
Jo is dean of Aberdeen Business School at Robert Gordon University, with a background in curriculum development across business and the creative industries. She has a strong interest in innovation, digital enhancement, and the connection between creativity and entrepreneurship. Outside of work, Jo is passionate about the emotion and storytelling of live performance.
Favourite Show: A Streetcar Named Desire
Andrea is a stewardship officer with the Stroke Association, with 30 years' experience in sales, marketing, PR and fundraising across multiple sectors. She previously played a key role in the HM Tomorrow campaign at His Majesty’s Theatre and chaired the Royal Gala Ball, welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Originally from Northern Ireland, Andrea is a passionate supporter of the arts and an enthusiastic marathon runner.
Favourite Show: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
Michael is the founder and creative director of Farsight, a Scottish creative marketing and video agency. With a background in media, communications, and award-winning film production, he brings over a decade of experience in storytelling and strategic content creation. Michael is passionate about using creativity to drive growth, inclusion, and meaningful change.
Favourite Show: Bat Out of Hell: The Musical
Calum is a senior manager with nearly 20 years of experience in client engagement, business development, and growth across the energy sector, third sector, and higher education. An award-winning piper, he is a passionate advocate for the arts and the benefits of performance at all ages. Outside of work, Calum also volunteers as a youth football coach in Aberdeen.
Favourite Show: Six