THERE were some extraordinary goings on in Peebles last week when hundreds of young people, parents, grandparents, locals and visitors filled the Eastgate Theatre to enjoy the annual Imaginarium Festival.

The theme for the third Imaginarium, held from October 15 to 19, was Outside In, Inside Out and the Anne Younger Studio was transformed when a bothy built in a woodland was filled with arty animals, bonkers birds and fabulous flowers all made by hugely arty/crafty children led by artist Jo Powell.

As the bothy took shape it became the stage for free bothy ballad music sessions and amazing bothy tales including Andy Weir from Ridelines mountain bike tuition reading Quentin Blake’s wonderfully eccentric Mrs Armitage on Wheels, Farmer Robert Barr who managed to shear a sheep and read Doreen Cronin’s Dooby Dooby Moo. The final furry visitors were Velvet Hall Alpacas introduced by owner Jean Macdonald who also read Horace the Miracle Alpaca to a slightly distracted audience.

Thirteen would-be Spielbergs took the festival outside when they drew storyboards and wrote scripts then headed out to film on location all around Peebles. The premiere of the resulting five minute films were shown to a hugely enthusiastic audience on Sunday. Workshops in dance, comedy and all sorts of circus skills kept everyone on their toes, laughing and well balanced while professional companies visited to perform in the theatre each afternoon and evening. Poppy Browne launched the theatre performances with her pop up theatre show Rain or Shine on Wednesday. In the evening the musicians took over and an expectant audience was entertained by a great Big Gig line-up including Jack Hinks, The Jellyman’s Daughter, Darcy DaSilva and Roy Marchbank.

On Thursday a magical forest sprang up in the theatre as Toto Tales visited with the exotic Starbird. A packed audience on Friday afternoon saw Emily Browne and her rabbit Stanley take off on incredible adventures to try and help The Thing settle down and sleep. In the evening comedian Stephen Halkett led a Happy Laffy Hour of comedy and magic.

Imaginarium broke out of the Eastgate again on Saturday when theatre company Ramshaklicious’ Jack took to the streets with his shopping trolley for a wild musical walk (with occasional performances) around town. Professor Heisenhoff hosted a Big Birthday Bash in the theatre in the afternoon and, in the evening, Theatre Sans Frontieres performed the beautiful and mysterious Heaven Eyes keeping members of the spellbound audience on the edge of their seats.

Sunday was a celebration of the whole festival with a chance to see and share all the art in and around the bothy, take part in Inside Out - the wonderful, messy interactive show by Tell Tale Hearts then attend the Five Minute Films Premiere which brought this year’s Imaginarium to a close.

Imaginarium was produced in partnership with Peebles Creative Place 2014.

Watch this space for news of next year’s event (just as soon as the Eastgate gets its breath back).