Aberdeen Performing Arts is celebrating after another successful Granite Noir welcomed world-class authors and visitors to the city.
Bold New Voices with Nina Bhadreshwar, Trisha Sakhlecha and Lucy Rose - Granite Noir 2025. Photo by Richard Frew.
Aberdeen’s international crime writing festival came to a rapturous close on Sunday 23 February as the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers brought down the curtain on Granite Noir 2025. The ninth edition saw over 80 authors, artists and speakers participate over the four day festival, including nine emerging North East writers as part of Granite Noir’s leading Locals in the Limelight series. Audiences travelled from across the country and tuned in around the world to enjoy events that dove into the thrilling world of crime fiction.
Criminal duos were in focus this year, with a live version of the hit BBC podcast Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling performed to a packed out Music Hall on Thursday night. And husband and wife writing teams Nicci French and Ambrose Parry discussed their process and real-life Partners in Crime.
Ben Torrie, Director of Programming and Creative Projects at Aberdeen Performing Arts remarked on this year’s event: “This year’s Granite Noir invited everyone to become our partners in crime, and we’re delighted that so many joined us as accomplices this past weekend. Reading and writing could be considered solitary occupations, but the acknowledgments at the end of any book prove it is anything but a solo endeavour. So too it is the case with this festival. Granite Noir would not be possible without the efforts of the team, our key funders and festival partners and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of them for their continued support. Most of all though, Granite Noir couldn’t happen without the support of our audiences and of the city of Aberdeen. As we look forward to our tenth edition next year, I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who has embraced Granite Noir into the fabric of the city and established its place as one of Scotland’s leading literary events.”
Other highlights of the programme included conversations with best-selling authors Alan Warner, CJ Cooke, Paula Hawkins and Lucy Foley; informative and immersive sessions with internationally renowned experts including forensic psychiatrist Dr Duncan Harding and policing guru Professor Nick Fyfe, plus forensic biologist Wendy Deegan’s Behind the Crime Scene Tape in partnership with Robert Gordon University; and the first ever live recording of broadcaster Nicola Meighan’s podcast A Kick up the Arts with Granite Harbour actor Dawn Steele.
Over 18,400 visitors attended events at this year’s Granite Noir, including the theatre programme at His Majesty’s Theatre which preluded the festival’s main line-up with stage adaptations of Murder on the Orient Express and Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong. And Aberdeen’s own Ten Foot Tall presented the off-beat comedy thriller Guilty by Rona Munro in the city’s Anatomy Rooms.
The festival unfurled across the city, with focus at Granite Noir’s festival hub at the Lemon Tree, where the dark world of crime was brought into the light. Discussions with authors Chris Whitaker, Doug Johnstone, James Oswald and more examined the art of crime writing; while events from Elle Nash, Kirsty Logan, T.L. Huchu and Anna Bogutskaya reflected the murky history of Aberdeen and the surrounding area with tales of myths, magic and monsters. Former Scots Scriever and North East loon Shane Strachan guided audiences through a spooky evening of spoken word with Into the Dark; while popular authors Kristen Perrin, Joanna Wallace and Chris Brookmyre embraced the whimsical with Dead Funny.
Diving into the margins of crime fiction, Granite Noir presented a film programme in partnership with Belmont Community Cinema, with screenings of The Girl on the Train and British psychological-thriller Censor at Cowdray Hall. Audiences were led on their own investigation with an interactive haunted audio experience, Hexagone, produced by Produced Moon with puzzles devised by pupils at Aberdeen Grammar School; learned more about the history of true crime in the region with the Cold Blooded Killers Exhibition curated by Inspector Claire Smith; and budding young writers had their imaginations kindled with children’s events with children’s authors Nadine Aisha Jassat, Sam Sedgman, and award-winning comedian Alasdair Beckett King.
Celebrating the success of this year’s event, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, Sharon Burgess said: “A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Granite Noir 2025 for a fabulous weekend of crime fiction, extending into author talks, music, workshops, an exhibition, film screenings, live podcasts and more - enough to satisfy the appetite of even the most insatiable crime writing fans! It was wonderful to see thousands of people coming to Aberdeen to join in the fun at venues across the city centre.
“We were thrilled that Lesley Little won our short story competition with The Risotto, coming out on top of a very high standard of entries from local writers. It was a treat to team up with so many talented groups and local creatives to bring Granite Noir to life alongside some of the most established authors and artists of the genre.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesperson added: “Granite Noir festival has once again pulled in crowds of enthusiasts from far and wide. The enthusiasm and interest from all who took part in this fantastic multi-media festival reflects its huge popularity both in Aberdeen and further afield. Our local festivals achieve so much and are able to add a great deal to the cultural and economic well- being of the area Granite Noir has contributed significantly to the vibrancy of the city."
Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland said: “It is fantastic to hear that this year’s Granite Noir has been another resounding success with many notable highlights, not least the brilliant line-up of talent from the literary and podcasts worlds which brought devilish entertainment to in person and online audiences. Festivals like these play an important role in our communities, bringing social, cultural and economic benefits while also highlighting a strong sense of place. Granite Noir is a shining example of this, it strongly reflects the local culture and history and illuminates the city’s unique character.”
Beth Cochrane, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Granite Noir has once again created an innovative multi-artform programme that celebrates the highly popular genre of crime writing. Featuring best-selling authors, theatre productions, podcasts, films, spoken word performances, and music, it continues to offer the people of Aberdeen, its emerging writers, and crime fiction fans from across Scotland with a dynamic experience. This year’s festival continues to show how important literary festivals are in connecting Scotland's readers with authors from all over the country.”
Granite Noir 2025 took place Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 February in Aberdeen Performing Arts venues, with satellite events across the city, including Aberdeen Arts Centre, the Anatomy Rooms, Central Library and Cowdray Hall. Granite Noir will mark its tenth edition in February 2026.
Granite Noir is produced and curated by Aberdeen Performing Arts and is grateful for the support from funders Aberdeen City Council, Creative Scotland and EventScotland. Granite Noir is presented with its festival partners Aberdeen City Libraries, Aberdeen Archives Galleries and Museums, Aberdeen Arts Centre, Citymoves Dance Agency, Police Scotland and Robert Gordon University.
Background
Granite Noir is Aberdeen’s crime writing festival. Inspired by the incredible popularity of crime fiction in all its forms, by the fantastic contribution that Scottish writers make to the genre, by our love affair with Nordic Noir, on the page and on screen, and most of all inspired by Aberdeen, which is the perfect backdrop for the festival – steeped in history, atmospheric, quirky and with a strong sense of place. Granite Noir is produced by Aberdeen Performing arts on behalf of Aberdeen City Council Libraries and Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives.
Aberdeen Performing Arts is a multi-award winning, multi-site, arts charity right at the centre of North-east of Scotland. Our three iconic city centre venues; His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree, are all on a national and international touring circuit for the performing arts and a vital part of Aberdeen and Scotland’s cultural landscape. www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
EventScotland, part of VisitScotland - the national tourism and events organisation for Scotland, works to make the destination the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry. By raising Scotland’s profile as a leading events destination, we hope to attract more visitors to our shores. It supports the delivery of Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035 which aims to build on the events industry’s many achievements to date. The strategy refresh has been shaped by, Scottish Government, VisitScotland’s Industry and Events Directorate, Scotland’s Events Industry Advisory Group (EIAG), Local Authorities, COSLA, Trade Union representatives, and those who responded to the consultation process.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery, which, now in its 30th year, has supported over 14,600 projects with more than £501.9 million in funding through Creative Scotland and its predecessor, the Scottish Arts Council. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot.
Media contact
All media enquiries, please contact Granite Noir PR Hannah Bradley Croall, [email protected]