A new concert, supported by Aberdeen City Council's Acorn Fund, created by A TO Z Aberdeen ahead of their biggest challenge yet. A TO Z are working with different charities across the North East to raise awareness of the mental health and suicide support available in Aberdeen.
We debuted in January 2026 with our performance of ‘Soho Cinders’. This encouraged 25 performers from different backgrounds to develop their skills in performing arts. Members were either new to performing or made a long-awaited return to the spotlight after losing their space in the local arts scene. ‘The Concert Project’ will remove barriers for more young people coming through education to take centre stage. This year, we made room for 14 new members who wanted to return to the spotlight in a young adult company.
7 months after our first production, we're heading back to the stage with original arrangements and script writing, and featuring a huge tonal shift for the company.
Matthew Richardson has never performed on stage before. In a few months, he’ll play Evan Hansen in Aberdeen’s upcoming production of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at the Tivoli. First, though, he’s stepping into a concert about mental health, social isolation and community, staged by the same company that cast him.
A TO Z Aberdeen only debuted in January, with a reworked version of ‘Soho Cinders’ at Aberdeen Arts Centre. Director Joel Simpson started the company because he found Aberdeen’s amateur drama scene hard to break into, with established groups often oversubscribed and rarely open to new members. Less than a year later, they’re already on their second show.
Take a look at our official production images, taken by Adele Keith Photography.
Titled ‘The Concert Project’ - named to resonate with “The Connor Project” from ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ - will be a new production premiered in Aberdeen, addressing youth mental health, social isolation and the importance of community connection. It is hoped that the concert will spark a city-wide conversation through song, dialogue and dance about loneliness, the impact of social media and raise awareness of mental health challenges. The concert is set to take place at the Craig Centre for Performing Arts at Robert Gordon’s College: a vastly appropriate location to stage a new production about potential teenage mental health struggles at school, and also positions the production in the heart of the City Centre.
‘Dear Evan Hansen’ explores social anxiety and the search for belonging, and this is what A TO Z is all about. We are a new theatre group for young adults who provide a safe, creative, environment that builds resilience for performers of all experience levels. Whilst the Granite City has always had a wealth of amateur performing groups to support, many young adults find themselves “locked out” of oversubscribed companies, leading to their passion for the arts to dwindle.
In the musical Dear Evan Hansen, 'The Connor Project' is a student-led mental health awareness group and memorial campaign for a student lost to suicide. A video of Evan's speech about his fictional friendship with Connor Murphy goes viral online, causing Evan and his friends to launch the initiative as a student organisation.
Why call it 'The Concert Project'?
Besides tying the concert into the show:
A TO Z are providing a space for young adults to share their stories, continue their passions, and find themselves within a new theatre company.
The concert will feature examples of mental health outreach, raising the audience's awareness of supports available across the North East by consulting charities.
Accessible ticket prices from the concert will be carried forward and fundraise for 'Dear Evan Hansen', similar to the Connor Project's Orchard Fundraiser.
We are delighted to be raising awareness of the fantastic work from the below charities. Through the concert and the resources made available on the night, audiences will have a better understanding of the supports and services available in Aberdeen to seek support from themselves or recommend to a friend.
Samaritans
SAMH
Men In Mind
Penumbra
What is the Acorn Fund by Aberdeen City Council?
From small acorns grow new creative opportunities. The Acorn Fund is open to Aberdeen-based organisations, community groups and individuals, to deliver high quality creative and cultural activity for people living in the city. Grants of up to £2,500 will be available to support eligible activities in Aberdeen such as:
One-off events – a performance, exhibition or workshop.
New, one-off pilot cultural projects.
Test a new cultural programme – this can be as part of a recurring event such as an annual festival.
The retention of emerging talent and development of established organisations to pilot new projects.
Activities that reflect the creative and cultural diversity of Aberdeen. This includes programmes by, with or for those with protected characteristics or those living in the most disadvantaged communities within the city.
What will the Acorn Fund allow?
Moving to the Tivoli Theatre represents a larger scale and ambition, protecting historical and cultural city assets by ensuring they remain vibrant and relevant to younger generations. ‘The Concert Project’ is a crucial stepping stone in our fundraising goal to achieve this; and the Acorn Fund would allow us to offer a tiered ticketing system. Without the support of the Acorn Fund, our overheads would force us to charge an industry standard ticket price, so it is vital in removing barriers for members of our community to enjoy.
A TO Z are able to work with a range of fair work freelancers to help produce 'The Concert Project', thanks to the Acorn Fund.
Last year, our show programme and sponsorship packages allowed local businesses to promote their brand during the lead-up and production of our show. A TO Z were also pleased to partner with local hospitality venues to offer subsidised food bills with a valid ticket to ‘Soho Cinders’. This highlights that we are committed to economic development within the city far beyond a single theatre ticket.
We believe we have a fantastic team of young adults and these achievements underpin our devotion to not only putting on a show; but putting on a show that increases pride in Aberdeen.
