Live Borders Presents Packed Autumn Schedule

The Fringe Festival might be over but the list of theatre, dance and comedy events happening this autumn in the Scottish Borders highlights how Scotland’s performing arts offer goes beyond Edinburgh.

The team at Live Borders Arts and Creativity, based at Heart of Hawick, are saying that although their main theatre space seats just over 100 people, they are thinking big in terms of the quality of their programming for the autumn.

With a focus on theatre, dance and comedy made in Scotland, the programme does feature artists with successful festival runs under their belts.

This includes koi collective whose production of Sally MacAlister’s ‘Crossing the Void’ was a five star, sell-out show at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe.

Live Borders’ Senior Creative Programming Officer, Jason Moyes said:

“Crossing the Void’ was a stand-out production for us when we saw it in Edinburgh last year,” he said.

“We quickly brought the play to Heart of Hawick, and then set about looking for ways to bring the collective energy and on-stage presence of the cast and exceptional writing of Sally MacAlister together again.”

The result is ‘Hysterical’, which tells a thought provoking story on the misdiagnosis of ‘hysteria’, how it discredits the real and pressing maladies of women through history, and endeavours to question if much has really changed.

Other theatre events from local companies include an evening of short plays from the Borders Pub Theatre inspired by The Beatles, and the world premiere of Firebrand Theatres film version of their play ‘Bill McLaren: Fighting The Enemy’, directed by Richard Burton.

Hawick will be a key location for dance this autumn. Scottish Borders based performance company Two Destination Language revive their 2022 Fringe show 40/40 for a special performance in Hawick Town Hall.

Meanwhile the physical theatre and circus artist Nikki Rummer will perform her new work Unbroken at the Heart of Hawick. The Arbroath based contemporary dance artist Charlotte McLean has been confirmed as artists in residence at Heart of Hawick in October.

Jason Moyes added:

“Heart of Hawick came on board as a Rural Touring Dance Initiative associate venue this year.

“It means that we are supported to programme dance in rural areas and work with artists like Charlotte McLean. We have a growing audience for dance in the area, who want to see new work, and have the opportunity participate in workshops or other activities that visiting artists can bring.”

The live comedy on offer for this autumn is also packed with Scottish comedians including Lynn Ferguson, Karen Dunbar, Jim Smith and Gary Meikle. Jim Smith’s show at Hawick Town Hall will be the third sell out performance from the comedic farmer.

“Our main theatre space is small,” Jason said.

“But I hope our programme of theatre, comedy and dance, along with that of the other theatres and venues in the Borders, will highlight how ambitious of offer is down here.”

The full listings for Live Borders autumn programme of theatre, dance and comedy is available here