New children's arts festival for Borders in October

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Imagine this: a new arts festival for children will take place in October in the Borders.

The festival launch. Picture by Graham Riddell

Youngsters can enjoy the delights of their very own week-long event, The Imaginarium, at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, thanks to recently secured funding from Creative Scotland.

Festival director Clare Prenton said: “The Imaginarium is a festival for 3-18 year olds, their friends and families. It will be a broad arts festival, with something for everyone including comedy, music, drama, storytelling, dance, visual arts, film and literary events.

"It’s a combination of workshops for youngsters to try a new art form, whether it is visual arts, stand-up comedy or street dance and performances. One such show is by James Campbell’s comedy for kids which has been a sell out at the Edinburgh Festival in recent years. “This event is a first and we really hope local people will get behind it to ensure its success. Perhaps families will think twice about going away for mid-term this October and take a staycation instead because it really is all happening here this year. Peebles is such a family friendly town and this is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy such an exciting new festival.” Two of the country’s leading national youth companies - Scottish Youth Theatre and Scotland’s National Youth Dance Company, Y Dance, will be taking part alongside Borders Youth Theatre who will run a three-day drama project for 8-12s for three days. Internationally acclaimed poets, artists, songwriters and comedians will all be performing. The line-up includes John Hegley, Argyll based artist Eleanor Carlingford, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, children’s stand up comedian James Campbell and ex punk rocker Kid Carpet with his little noisy animals. Literary events are also to the fore, with participation from authors Andrew Weale (Nora, the Girl who Ate and Ate and Ate and The Spooky Spooky House) and Lari Don, talking about her latest book, Maze Running, set partly at Traquair House. Creative Scotland provided funding to help support The Imaginarium: An Arts Festival for children and young people aged 3-18. Clare Prenton, who is Peebles-based, is a freelance theatre director and writer with over 20 years' experience in directing professional plays, musicals and opera, most recently as an associate director for Sir Alan Ayckbourn. She has directed for the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, the New Shakespeare Company at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, English Touring Opera, the British Shakespeare Company and Opera Holland Park. For more information on The Imaginarium, visit www.eastgatearts.com

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New children's arts festival for Borders in October

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