A FUNDRAISING event featuring local musicians, dancers, actors, singers and storytellers is coming to Peebles this month.

‘The Bright Side of Life’ displays the talent from Tweed Theatre, the Down Home Radio Company, Joe Wilton and Friends, Stride Dancers with Eastgate Follies, Shakespeare at Traquair and Nomad Beat.

The show comes to the Eastgate stage in two nights of variety performances as a benefit for the Eastgate Theatre Open Doors Fund.

The Down-Home Radio Company has been entertaining local audiences for years with Americana music and razor-sharp surreal sketches.

Sara Boles has a thriving dance community at the Eastgate – Stride Young Dance Company being the young contemporary performers and The Eastgate Follies the energetic, young at heart, adult jazz dancers.

Joe Wilton is well-known as an acoustic musician working with talented local performers in different combinations. He has already been involved with his collaborators in sessions at the theatre this year.

Shakespeare at Traquair is famed for its annual promenade productions at Traquair House. It adjusted to COVID this year with a couple of shortened comedy adaptations – Hamlet and Macbeth – and will bring an even shorter version of Hamlet to the Eastgate fundraiser.

Nomad Beat has been around since 2010 as a charity providing accessible tuition and music making to benefit the community. It’s Celtic Beat group, which welcomes mixed instruments and all ages, plays traditional music from around the world.

Tweed Theatre has presented all kinds of shows in over 40 years – drama, promenade performances, poetry and music, panto – ranging from Ghost Walks and “Trainspotting” to ‘Allô ‘Allo, Alan Bennett and Tony Roper excerpts.

The Bright Side of Life takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 22 and 23 at 7.30pm a the Eastgate Theatre. Tickets £10 (£5 concession). Call 01721 725777 or visit eastgatearts.com