A Crackin' Day in the home of Aardman: Aardman in Concert Live at Bristol Beacon!
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
What a truly baa-rilliant day! On Thursday 11 June, the Carrot Productions orchestra and staff travelled to Bristol, the home of Aardman, for two very special performances of Aardman in Concert at Bristol Beacon. Amongst the sold-out audiences were none other than Aardman visionaries Nick Park, Sir Peter Lord, and Sir David Sproxton. We were delighted that BBC Breakfast came along to capture the day.
“It was such a delight to be part of, hearing the audience–young and old–marvel at the films and orchestra, to see the care and passion that's gone into building this tour to celebrate our 50th in such a heart-warming and joyful way” Molly Van Den Brink, Senior Manager, Aardman
The whole day was fantastic—the auditorium was packed to the rafters with an incredibly enthusiastic audience, including none other than the Aardman legends, Nick Park, Sir Peter Lord, and Sir David Sproxton, alongside dozens of the incredibly talented Aardman studio staff. Sharing the joy of Aardman's iconic animations with the very geniuses who created them was a profound privilege and an absolute career highlight for everyone on stage.
Aardman in Concert and BBC Breakfast
The buzz was so big that BBC Breakfast joined us for the entire day! Their crew recorded behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals, and audience reactions for a wonderful feature piece that was broadcast nationally, capturing the magic of seeing classic claymation paired with a live, soaring orchestral score. You can see their celebration of Aardman at 50 coverage below.
A Visit to Aardman's Gas Ferry Road HQ
The Carrot Productions crew and orchestra were treated to the ultimate insider experience: a visit to Aardman’s Bristol HQ. Walking through the doors where history is moulded was inspiring, surreal, and the perfect celebratory finale to an unforgettable trip.
We were able to see the many BAFTAs, Nick Park's Academy Award for The Wrong Trousers, and many of the other accolades they have received, proudly displayed in the foyer. We also saw lots of models, original sketches, giant characters and a wide variety of memorabilia collected, and sent, to Aardman over the last 50 years. It is truly an awesome, inspiring, creative building.
Aardman in Concert: The Show
The show is a landmark celebration of Aardman’s extraordinary world – bringing together iconic characters, much-loved films, and the thrill of a live orchestra for an unforgettable cinematic experience – created in partnership with Aardman.
It begins with a wonderfully nostalgic journey celebrating highlights of the last fifty years, with a film montage specially curated by Aardman to a brand-new musical score by Daniel Whibley. This is followed by other selections, including the greatest chase scenes and some of Shaun the Sheep's most iconic moments. In Bristol, after the interval the audience then enjoyed a full screening of the classic, Oscar-nominated caper A Matter of Loaf and Death. Watching Wallace and Gromit's bakery antics unfold while the orchestra performed the dramatic score live in synchronicity in front of Aardman royalty (!) was an unforgettable experience.
Adding to the magic, the audience was treated to some spectacular surprise appearances, as Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit themselves stepped out on stage to greet their thrilled fans!
Thank you!
A massive thank you to the team at Bristol Beacon, the wonderful folks at Aardman, and every single person who came to see the show.
Aardman in Concert: Future Tour Dates
The tour continues this weekend with performances in St Albans at The Alban Arena. There are still a few tickets left, so get yours now:
The 2026 Aardman in Concert tour will then be continuing throughout Aardman's 50th Anniversary year, with performances at venues across the country. The future venues announced so far are:
St Albans | The Alban Arena | 27 June
Budleigh | Budleigh Music Festval | 3 July
York | York Barbican | 29 August
Newcastle | Newcastle City Hall | 30 August
Manchester | Manchester Central Exchange Auditorium | 23 October
Chester | Chester Storyhouse | 26 October
Leicester | De Montfort Hall | 27 October
Nottingham | Royal Concert Hall | 27 November
“It was an honour to celebrate the fifty-year legacy of Aardman in their home city, in the presence of the visionary creative forces behind the studio!” Rachel Whibley, Managing Director, Carrot Productions
Copyright © Aardman Animations Ltd. All rights reserved.
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