NESCol Success

NESCol performers take to the stage for Aberdeen Student Show ‘Seagully Blonde’

April 7, 2025

Eleven North East Scotland College (NESCol) students and alumni are set to star in the upcoming Aberdeen Student Show, Seagully Blonde, running from 23 to 26 April at His Majesty’s Theatre.

Featuring students from RGU, the University of Aberdeen and NESCol, the production will raise funds for 50 local charities, with hopes of topping last year’s record-breaking total of more than £156,000.

This year’s show follows a similar storyline to the iconic film and musical, Legally Blonde, but with the show’s signature Aberdonian twist.

HND Acting & Performance student, Conor McGarry, is taking on the principal role of Professor Calaholmes, while the other NESCol performers will bring various characters to life as part of the ensemble.

Assistant Director, Hannah Davidson, is also a NESCol drama graduate, having completed her HND in 2015. Her vast experience includes performing at the Edinburgh Fringe with Hallirackit Theatre, starring in a short film with Crow House Projects, and working with the Aberdeen Performing Arts Creative Engagement team.

Hannah first got involved with the 2024 student show, as part of the script team for ‘Mounthoolin Rogue!’.

She said: “I feel like a fraud because I didn’t get involved with the student show when I was a student! This is my second year, but first as part of the production team as Assistant Director – it’s daunting but so exciting.

“There is nothing quite like the Aberdeen Student Show, not just in the city, but the whole country.”

Image copyright: Adele Keith Photography

Renowned in the region, this year will be the 104th student show. Each annual production parodies well-known films, literature and theatre, and is mainly written in Doric.

Work began on the script and musical numbers last summer with auditions held at the start of March. The cast of 44 are now over halfway through their intense four-week rehearsal period.

Hannah said: “The students get to experience what it would be like to put a show together in a condensed timeframe.

“The production team love Legally Blonde, and fans of the film and musical will be very happy! We’ve stayed true to the original story but with a Doric twist.

“The story follows Kinkell Woods (but ye can ca her Elle, abdy does) who is makkin’ her wye from oot in the sticks to the granite city to start a law degree (Fit, like it’s hard?!). She’s nae followin’ her ex there, honest. But if he happens tae be there too, she micht be able tae win him back. Or micht she realise there’s mair tae life, and mair tae her, than haein’ a mannie by her side?

“There’s a lot of laughs, a lot of fun and a lot of pink!”

Community is at the heart of the Aberdeen Student Show and its fundraising efforts have been recognised by the Scottish Parliament. The show will support a range of charities this year with wee grants all the way up to gold awards for Down’s Syndrome Scotland, Clan Cancer Support, Hamish Dear’s Warm Hugs, LATNEM and Sands.

Hannah said: “As well as raising money through the production, the cast get the opportunity to meet with the charities and the people supported by them. It’s a special part of Student Show which allows the students to learn more about and help their local community.”

Hannah encourages all students to get involved.

She said: “Go for it! You don’t need to have heaps of show experience – for some of our performers, this is their first time doing a large-scale musical.

“You’ll have so much fun and get the chance to perform at HMT, which is one of the most beautiful theatres in Scotland.

“It’s also a great opportunity to meet people with similar passions as you. I know people who have made friends for life through Student Show.”

5000 tickets have been sold for Seagully Blonde, but there are a limited number of tickets still available. Visit the Aberdeen Performing Arts website to book.