There are countless different shows and events that take place in Guildford, many of which are listed on this site. It is difficult to imagine many of them that tick the box of being ‘suitable for all ages’ quite like this one, however. Sure, there are other things that people of all ages can attend, but that isn’t the same thing as saying that they’re going to be enjoyed by everyone in equal measure.
It is, therefore, something of a testament to the work of Aardman Animations that it is difficult to imagine anyone, irrespective of age, being disappointed with the Aardman in Concert performance that is taking place at the G Live in May.
About Aardman Animations
It is not out of the realms of the possible that the name of Aardman Animations is one that you’ve heard at one point or another, but that it has never really registered. That is because it is the company’s ‘stars’ that will be better known to pretty much everyone, with those with a good few years under their belt perhaps coming across them for the first time when they watched Morph when they were younger. That was in the 1970s, when Aardman Animation founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton turned to clay in order to produce stop-motion characters. They really hit the big time in 1990, however, when the company won an Oscar.
That was thanks to one of their directors, Nick Park, who created a short called Creature Comforts. Park was also responsible for creating Wallace & Gromit, the comical pair of friends made up of an English inventor who loves cheese and a mute dog. They have starred in numerous films over the years, with The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave also winning Oscars. From the likes of Chicken Run to The Curse of the Were-Rabbit via Flushed Away and Arthur Christmas, not to mention many more besides, Aardman Animations has been a smash hit-creating studio for decades.
Aardman in Concert
Now that you’re more aware of who it is that we’re talking about when we mention Aardman Animations, it’s worth taking a closer look at what you can expect from the Aardman in Concert experience. Brought to you by Carrot Productions Limited, it promises a cinematic celebration of the clay, comedy and creativity of Aardman Animations that we’ve all enjoyed so much of over the years. The key thing here, though, is that you aren’t just going along to watch some of Aardman’s productions on a big screen with the original sound being played out of live speakers. Instead, this is a much more all-encompassing event.
That is thanks to the fact that a live orchestra will be there to bring the 50 years of animations to life in front of your very eyes. This is a brand new show for 2026, promising attendees a ‘joy-filled journey’ through British creativity that has spanned more than five decades. Expect to see the likes of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and the cast of Creature Comforts, all culminating with a screening of Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death with the orchestra. Whilst the musicians are all brilliant in their field, they’ll also be having a big of fun, dressing up as characters and having a laugh as they play.
Where & When?
If you are hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to revisit some characters from your youth or to introduce them to some young people in your life for the first time, you’ll want to head along to the G Live in Guildford on Monday, the fourth of May. The event begins at 3.30pm, coming to an end one hour and five minutes later at 4.35pm. The doors to the venue will open at 3pm, giving you enough time to get yourself and your party into the G Live and settled into your seats. When you arrive, you’ll be given a ticket with a numbered seat on it, allowing all members of your party to sit together once inside.
In terms of who it is that Aardman in Concert is aimed at, it is thought to be suitable for those aged four and over. As anyone who has ever seen any of Aardman’s work will know, there really isn’t an upper age limit in terms of enjoyment. When it comes to buying tickets, a ‘child’ ticket is ok for anyone aged 17 or under. You can park at the G Live, but other forms of transport to the venue are not only available but also positively encouraged. There are public transport options, for example, as well as somewhere on site to be able to leave your bike if you choose to cycle there to watch the Aardman in Concert event.