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 February 2026 Seniors project is
The Marxist in Heaven
by Hattie Naylor
Directed by Oli Bisset
This project starts very soon so sign up as soon as you can.
For the enrolment form contact: [email protected]
Fee for project is £140 (A £50 non- refundable deposit to secure your place). The optional project T-shirt is £15 - see form.
*Note on Fees: The real cost of this project will be around £450 per participant.  BYT works hard to find other funding for projects to help reduce the fee to £140. We are very aware of financial pressures on families and will try to help with reduced fees. If required please contact us to discuss.
email [email protected]
INITIAL WORKSHOPS
Sunday 1st & 8th Febriary 2.00 - 6.00pm: Abbey Row Kelso (TBC) 
REHEARSALS
Saturday 14th to 20th February 10.00am - 5.00pm- Hawick South - Church Hall (opposite Hawick High School) TBC
PERFORMANCES
Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick: Friday 20th & Saturday 21st

Borders Youth Theatre's winter term weekly workshops; in Kelso, Duns, Selkirk, Jedburgh and Galashiels started in January - there is still time to join in part-way through the term.
Contact [email protected] for information and enrolment forms.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bordersyouththeatre

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 and 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.
Winter Term started January 11th with Kelso. 
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] 

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.

A contemporary play written for National Theatre Connections for Youth Theatre

scan for ticket link

What has Borders Youth Theatre been doing?
The October 2025 seniors project was The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. A breathtaking experimental performance of the epic poem by Samuel Taylor-Coleridge.
Borders Youth Theatre Summer 2025 project was Shakespeare's fabulous fantasy comedy A Midsummer Night Dream.
Performed outdoors to rapt audiences of all ages in the atmospheric and beautiful grounds of Bowhill House, Selkirk.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Borders Youth Theatre Drama workshops and performance projects

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

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 2026?
Borders Youth Theatre February 2026 Show is: The Marxist in Heaven by Hattie Naylor
In April 2026 the juniors are performing an adaptation of Peter Pan

​

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:  Matt Davies, 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