Aardman Celebrating 50 Years with U.K. Concert Tour

Aardman is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the orchestra-accompanied production Aardman in Concert, which will tour the U.K. from May to October.

The first half of the performance, produced in partnership with Carrot Productions, will offer a celebration of the company’s 50-year history with a brand-new film and score, followed by specially made film montages showing the most iconic moments from Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph, Creature Comforts and more.

The second half of the performance will include a full screening of the Wallace & Gromit films A Matter of Loaf and Death or The Wrong Trousers, accompanied by Carrot Productions’ Picture House Orchestra. Screenings will vary by venue.

A Matter of Loaf and Death sees Wallace and Gromit hard at work running their own bakery. When local bakers begin mysteriously disappearing, Gromit must turn into a detective and prevent Gromit from becoming the final victim. In The Wrong Trousers, Gromit finds himself ousted from his room by the cool and calculating Feathers McGraw, a penguin in a chicken disguise with a criminal plan.

“Celebrating 50 years of Aardman with a live orchestra feels incredibly special,” said Rachel Whibley, managing director of Carrot Productions. “These are characters many of us grew up with, and now we’re seeing families bring their own children to experience them live. Creating something that parents, children and grandparents can enjoy together is exactly what Carrot and our friends at Aardman are about.”

Molly Van Den Brink, senior attractions and live experiences manager at Aardman, commented, “What better way to continue our long-standing partnership with Carrot Productions than celebrating our 50th anniversary together, allowing fans of all ages the chance to experience our favorite Aardman moments from the last 50 years in such a joyful and uplifting concert while introducing children to the wonder of a live orchestra.”