About Us

Borders Youth Theatre (BYT) runs weekly drama workshops during 'term time'
​in Duns, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Galashiels, Kelso and online.
We also run creative drama projects across the Scottish Borders ​during many of the school holidays.

Borders Youth Theatre's Easter project is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's
Fantastic Mr Fox
at the Corn Exchange Melrose
sign up now for fantastic fun! 
Participants: Age 8 to S1 (approx 12 years old)
Rehearsals: 10th to 17th April 2025
Performances: Friday 18th April 2025 - 7.00pm
Saturday 19th April 2025 - 3.00pm and 7.00pm

For more information on all projects, fees and workshops contact:
[email protected] 
Seniors sign up for 3 fantastic days of skills-up
workshops upstairs in the Corn Exchange Melrose
​THREE SKILLS WORKSHOPS
Tuesday 15th April - Using make-up for Effect in Theatre - Tammy Wight (who ran the successful workshop last year)
Wednesday 16th April - Creating and Using Shadow Puppets - Daniel Livingstone
Thursday 17th April - Using your Voice effectively - Carole Williams (SCDA)
TIMES: 10.00 to 4.30 each day.           AGE: 12 - 25              FEE: £50 for 3 days (£20 per day) 
PLACE: Workshops take place in the Ormiston Room at the Corn Exchange, Melrose.

What we do

Borders Youth Theatre's drama leaders deliver a wide-ranging workshop and performance project programme across the Scottish Borders throughout the year.  The drama workshops, which are after-school and/or at weekends during term-time, provide a fun, friendly, welcoming, inclusive environment and high-quality skills development through the medium of drama.
Borders Youth Theatre's inclusive ethos has effectively encouraged young people who are often overlooked by mainstream arts groups to acquire life-skills, grow emotionally, raise their ambitions, and to work effectively as a team - all through fun and creativity.
Many of Borders Youth Theatre's young participants go on to use the transferable skills they have learned to develop their career paths; several have successfully embarked on professional careers in drama and some return to assist the next generation of 'BYTers'.
Here’s the link to the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAjLOu9U75kQHNCv8kKi7g

          "BYT is just amazing"

"BYT has been brilliant and really.              
​helped develop my confidence".              

"BYT is where I can be myself".                   
​.                                 

see our youtube channel

Borders Youth Theatre
inspiring young people from across the Scottish Borders

Borders Youth Theatre Workshops
Our 'term time'  weekly workshops are informal, fun,
90-minute sessions that help children and young people to develop transferable skills and build confidence through the creative medium of drama. Currently there are workshops in: Duns, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Galashiels & Kelso. Summer Term starts April 16th with Duns. 
The age range for Juniors is 8 years to 'S1', Seniors: S1 to 25 years. 
​All are welcome, no auditions needed.
​For more information about schedule, how to enrol and fees email: [email protected] 

Sign up now for the
Juniors Easter performance project
Fantastic Mr Fox
Directed by Karen Anderson assisted by Oli Bisset
open to all aged from 8 years to S1
Rehearsals & shows at Corn Exchange Melrose
See above for more detail. Contact [email protected]
​for information and enrolment forms.

Borders Youth Theatre (BYT) has been inspiring young people from across the Scottish Borders
since 1989. Its amazing track record in engaging and empowering children and young adults
from all backgrounds, has been applauded far beyond the region.
Borders Youth Theatre has worked in partnership with many organisations including:
​Scottish Youth Theatre, Live Borders, Youth Scotland & Youth Theatre Arts Scotland.

What has Borders Youth Theatre been doing?
In October 2024 BYT Seniors devised & toured a fabulous performance: Dreams Inc created entirely by the participants facilitated by Oli Bisset. The February 2025 'NotNT'  performance project was a fantastically funny and beautiful performance of Variations by Katie Hims  at Tower Mill at the Heart of Hawick.

Borders Youth Theatre Drama workshops and performance projects

"Bringing Theatre to Young People & Communities
​Bringing Young People & Communities to Drama"

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 2025?
Find out more about Borders Youth Theatre performances and events at Duns Playfest

The first project in 2025 is: Borders Youth Theatre Seniors 'NotNT' show in February
The NotNT Seniors project will be a new production of Variations by Katie Hims at Tower Mill, Hawick
The production will directed by Oli Bisset, assisted by Esmé Babineux and Lewis Teckkam.
The Easter Juniors project in April 2025 is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox, at Melrose Corn Exchange. The production will be directed by Karen Anderson and Oli Bisset.
Also in April at Melrose Corn Exchange are 3 x 1-day skills up workshops for Seniors.

Borders Youth Theatre (BYT) is a registered Scottish Charity run by volunteers.
BYT contracts experienced qualified professionals to deliver a wide-ranging workshop and performance project programme to provide high-quality skills development through the medium of drama. ​
​Chairperson:  Susan Stewart
Treasurer: Esme Babineaux
Trustees:  Rachel Hunter, Esme Babineaux, Catrina Rose,
Struan Henderson, Kyra Tweddle & Natasha Smith
Child Protection  Advisor: Kyra Tweddle
Patron: Grant O'Rourke
Advisor to the Trustees: David Bisset
Volunteer helper: Frances Teckkam
Our Current Workshop Leaders:
​Karen Anderson, Oli Bisset, Lukca Best, Struan Henderson and Esme Babineaux

Borders Youth Theatre is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC022282