The Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre
The background to The Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre project is in the early 1990s, when audits of leisure provision commissioned by the local authority identified a gap in arts provision. The audits revealed a remarkable richness and diversity of arts activity in the community, despite the absence of a dedicated arts venue in the formation of pressure group (Under One Roof) representing 19 local arts organisations, the local authority commissioned MacPherson Research in 1995 to test the market for an arts centre in Peebles.
With local government reorganisation pending, the outgoing Tweeddale District Council invested funds in Borders 1996, a company limited by guarantee and recognised as a charity by the Inland Revenue. With generous help from Scottish Arts Council Lottery Funding, Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise Borders, European Union funding, Leader Plus as well as many other trusts, foundations and donations the Theatre opened in March 2004.
The Theatre hosts on average three performances per week, with a very interesting and diverse programme all year round. The programme is primarily focused on drama, but there are numerous music, literary, comedy and dance performances, as well as films. Well known theatre companies such as Borderline, 7:84, X-factor and Tabula Rasa all played at the theatre within the first week of opening. Local theatre companies are also taking advantage of the new building, with shows from Rowan Tree Theatre Company, Shakespeare at Traquair and Tweed Theatre. On the music front, the venue welcomes Preston Reed, The Scottish Ensemble and Erik Truffaz to name but a few.
The Eastgate will be revolutionary for Peebles and has been designed by Richard Murphy Architects. The theatre boasts a 240 seat auditorium, separate studio space for workshops, exhibitions or meetings, three large artist dressing rooms, showers, foyer, daytime café and evening bar which opens before performances.
Contact
Box Office
The Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre
Eastgate
Peebles
Peeblesshire
EH45 8AD
Scotland
Tel: +44 (1721) 725777
E-Mail: boxoffice@eastgatearts.com
WWW: http://www.eastgatearts.com
