What's on where

April 29

Somethings Old, Somethings New, with Liz Lochhead, Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, 7.30pm. From the bittersweet to the rude and raunchy, Scotland’s Makar weaves a spellbinding show, mixing poems, monologues and music. Accompanied by Steve Kettley’s soulful sax. Tickets £14, £12, £6 for schoolchildren. Contact the box office on 01721 725777 or see www.eastgatearts.com

Opera

May 1

Lucia di Lammermoor, Eastgate Theatre, 2pm. Live broadcast of Donizetti’s tragic masterpiece, telling the story of an ongoing feud between two families in 17th century Scotland that has terrible consequences for two young lovers. Tickets £17 (£10 concs). Contact details as before. Suitable for age 15+

Theatre

April 30

Shakespeare Untold, Maltings, 2pm. The stories you know from the characters you don’t. This family-friendly double bill comes from London’s world-renowned venue, Shakespeare’s Globe. Tickets £12. Contact the box office on 01289 330999 or see www.maltingsberwick.co.uk Suitable for age 5+

May 5-7

The Producers, Maltings, 7.30pm. Maltings Youth Theatre and Friends present the hilarious stage adaptation of the 1968 Mel Brooks film. Tickets £14 (£12 concs), family ticket £36. Contact details as before.

Comedy

April 30

Alfie Moore, Hemelvaart Bier Cafe, Ayton. Tickets £7.50. Contact the box office on 07968 359917 or see www.hemelvaart.co.uk

Music

April 30

The Curvettes, Teviotdale Leisure Centre, Hawick, 7pm. Support from the Stevie T Band. Tickets £10, available from Teviotdale Leisure Centre, Ellava Place or The Fireplace. Strictly over 18 only.

Rory McLeod and the Familiar Strangers, Hippodrome, Eyemouth, 8pm. A fresh and exciting new musical environment for popular singer-songwriters Rory’s engaging and witty songs. Tickets £12.50. Contact the box office on 01890 750099 or see http://eyemouthhippodrome.org/

May 1

Totally Tina, Buccleuch Centre, Langholm. Top tribute show starring Justine Riddoch. Tickets £18 (£16.40 concs). Contact the box office on 01387 381196 or see www.buccleuchcentre.com

May 5

Martin Simpson, Eastgate Theatre, 7.30pm. One of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin Simpson’s interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. Tickets £15, £13, £6 for schoolchildren. Contact details as before.

Music at Mellerstain presents Ugne Tiskute (viola) and Alexandra Vaduva (piano) playing the music of Schubert, Brahms and Clarke, 7.30pm in the beautiful Adam music room. Followed by light supper. Tickets £13.50/£17.50 from 01835 864153.

May 6

Jessie Rae, Reivers Bar, Galashiels, 9pm. Classic sounds from Borders musician.

Film

April 29

Grandma, Tower Mill, Hawick, 7pm. A teenager facing an unplanned pregnancy seeks help from her acerbic grandmother, a woman who is long estranged from her daughter. Tickets £6.50 (£5 concs). Contact details as before. (15)

Grimsby, Maltings, Berwick, 7.30pm. Two brothers, one a top MI6 assassin and the other an idiotic football hooligan living in Grimsby, are reunited after growing up with separate adoptive families. Tickets £7.45 / £6.45 concs, Child £4.45 (16 & under), Baby FREE (2 & under). Contact details as before. (15)

April 30

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Tower Mill, Hawick, 3pm. Fearing the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on Superman, while the world wrestles with the question of what kind of a hero it really needs. Tickets and contact details as before. (12A)

The Hateful Eight, Tower Mill, Hawick, 7pm. In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters. Tickets and contact details as before.

May 1

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Tower Mill, Hawick, 2.30pm. See above.

May 5

Rams [Hrútar], Tower Mill, Hawick, 6pm. Iceland’s entry to the Oscars this year, Rams is an endearing story of love, loss and forgiveness set against the backdrop of magnificent Icelandic panoramas. (15)

Walk

April 30

Yetholm Romany Ramblers walk: Hethpool, Torleehouse, Easter Tor, Hare Law, Southern Knowe. Meet 9.30am. at Wauchope Hall for car sharing. Route 9.5 miles.

Eildon Ramblers walk, The Herring Road Stage 2 Blyth - Braidshawrigg - Twin Law Cairns and return (circular). Meet 10am at Blyth Farm NT586496. For more info and to register contact Agnes Waldie on 01896 823015 or [email protected]

May 1

Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club, Cocklawfoot walk. Meet Council car park, Newtown St Boswells, 8.45am. Contact club secretary Evelyn Horsburgh on 01750 76214 for more information.

Exhibitions

From February 13

A Rural Portrait, Cut the Mustard Gallery, Langholm. Call 013873 81180 for more details, or see www.mustardgallery.co.uk

Till may 2

Water Driven, Borders Textile Towerhouse, Tower Mill, Hawick. An exhibition on water driven technology from its early stages to the present day. Open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm, closed Tuesday and Sunday. Admission free. Call 01450 377615 for more information or email [email protected].

Till May 8

Animal Spirits by Juneau Projects, The Gymnasium Gallery, Berwick, 11am to 5pm. Animal Spirits is a new book and exhibition written and designed by Juneau Projects. The book tells the story of a group of survivors who, following a global technological disaster, have founded an arts and craft community within the walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Free admission.

Till May 21

Reflections on Celts, Old Gala House, Galashiels, Tues -Sat 10am-4pm. Showcasing two Iron Age mirrors currrently on a tour of the UK in conjunction with a major exhibition on Celts. Call 01750 726456 / 01896 752611.

MArch 25-Sept 4

Hawico, Borders Textile Towerhouse, Hawick, open Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm. A showcase of cashmere knitwear designs by Hawico. Admission free.

Till November 30

Rave Reviewer, Abbotsford House, near Melrose, open 10am-5pm. Exhibition exploring Sir Walter Scott’s activity as a reviewer of some of the most famous work of his time, including Jane Austen’s Emma and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Entry is included as part of admission ticket to the house. See http://www.scottsabbotsford.com/ for further details.

event

UNTIL OCTOBER 31

Stick Man Trail. Kielder Castle, free admission. Based on the much-loved book, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, following the success of the Gruffalo trail. It starts from Kielder Castle, where families can pick up an activity pack for £3, follow the trail and complete fun activities along the way. Parking costs £4.50 all day or £1.50 for one hour.

Festival

April 16

Beer and Food Festival, Duns Volunteer Hall, noon to 7pm. Live music from Dancing with Ghosts, Ruff Cut and others. Beer on tap from Born in the Borders, Broughton, Knops and Tempest, as well as a bar for wine and soft drinks. Cookery demonstrations and food stalls, including a hog roast from Oink. Admission free, accompanied children welcome.

April 30-May 1

Galashiels Mini Walking Festival. For details of walks and booking information, see http://www.galawalk.co.uk/

attractions

opening times may vary during the winter season

Abbotsford House, Abbotsford, Melrose: 01896 752043. See www.scottsabbotsford.com for events and prices.

Bamburgh Castle:,01668 214515. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm. Admission £10.50, children £5, senior £10, family £25.

Berwick Barracks, 01289 304493. Open daily 10am-6pm. See detailsfo admission charges at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

Bowhill House and Gardens, near Selkirk: 01750 22204. See http://www.bowhillhouse.co.uk for details of opening hours and admission charges.

Chillingham Castle, 01668 215359. Now open. Please ring for further details or visit our website www.chillingham-castle.com

Chillingham Wild Cattle Park: 01668 215250. Open Monday to Friday: Tours at 10am, 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. Sundays: Tours at 10am, 11am, noon. Closed Saturday. Admission £8, concs £6, children £3, family £16.

Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, near Peebles: 01721 760254. Open daily February 1 to November 30 from 10am to 4pm/5pm/6pm. Admission: Adults £6, Concessions £5, Children Free, Members Free.

Dryburgh Abbey, near Dryburgh: 01835 822381. Open daily, 9.30am-5.30pm. Admission: Adult £5.50, Child £3.30, Concession £4.40.

Etal Castle, 01890 820332. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm. Gift aid admission: £4.80, concs £4.30, children £2.90, family £12.50.

Heatherslaw Cornmill, 01890 820488. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm. Admission £3.80, concs £3.20, family £10, under-fives free.

Heatherslaw Light Railway, 01890 820244. Open daily, from 10am to 4pm, first train at 11am. Return journey prices: £6.50, seniors £6, children £4.50, under-fives £2.50, babies free.

Heatherslaw Visitor Centre, 01890 820338. Open daily, from 10am to 5pm.

Glentress Peel Visitor Centre, near Peebles. Top mountain biking trails, great walks and fantastic wildlife watching, visitor centre, cafe and bike shop. Call 0300 067 6900 for more details. See http://7stanesmountainbiking.com/Glentress---Innerleithen for details of facility opening hours.

Halliwell’s House Museum and Robson Gallery, Markey Place, Selkirk: 01750 20096. Open Monday-Saturday 11am-4pm. and Sunday 12pm-3pm.

Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre, near Jedburgh: 01835 830306. Woodland walks, events, exhibitions, playparks. Open 10am-5pm daily.

Hawick Museum and Gallery, Wilton Lodge Park: 01450 364747. Open Mon–Fri 10am–12 and 1–5pm, Sat and Sun 2–5pm.

Hermitage Castle, Hawick, Roxburghshire: 01387 376222. Open daily from 9.30am-5.30pm. Admission Adult £4.50, Child £2.70, Concession £3.60.

Jedburgh Abbey: 01835 863925. Open 9.30am-5.30pm. Admission: Adult £5.50, Child £3.30, Concession £4.40.

Lady Waterford Hall, Ford: 01890 820338. Open daily, from 11am to 5pm. Admission £3, concs £2.70, family £8, under-fives free.

Lindisfarne Castle, 01289 389244. Call for opening times. Gift aid admission: £7.80, child £3.90, family £19.40.

Lindisfarne Centre, 01289 389004. Call for opening times. Admission £4, concs £3.50, children £2, family £10, under-fives free.

Lindisfarne Priory: 01289 389200. Open daily, from 10am to 6pm. Gift aid admission: £6.20, concs £5.60, children £3.70, family £16.10.

Mellerstain House and Gardens, Gordon: 01573 410225. Open Fri-Mon. See www.mellerstain.com for details of opening hours and admission prices.

Melrose Abbey: 01896 822562. Open daily 9.30am-5.30pm. Admission Adult £5.50, Child £3.30, Concession £4.40.

Old Gala House, Scott Crescent, Galashiels: 01896 752611. Opening hours March-May, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm.

Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom, Market Place, Selkirk: 01750 720096. Opening hours, March-April, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday-11am-3pm.

The Three Hills Roman Heritage Centre, Melrose: 01896 822651. Entry £2; £1 school pupil or student; £5 family. Schools are welcome at any time.

Thirlstane Castle, Lauder: 01578 722430. From May 3 – October 2, open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 10am-3pm (grounds 10am-5pm). See http://thirlestanecastle.co.uk/ for info on ticket prices.