Sites like eastgatearts.com: what the Peebles arts centre offers, and 4 venues to compare

Eastgatearts.com is the website of Eastgate Theatre, a community arts centre in a converted 19th-century church in Peebles that welcomes more than 50,000 visitors a year. Read on for what eastgatearts.com offers, how the charity behind it works, where it falls short, and four venues in southern Scotland to compare.

By TodaysPedia Editorial TeamUpdated 4 alternatives3 min readVisit eastgatearts.com
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Best sites like eastgatearts.com: quick answer

  1. Best for new Scottish plays in EdinburghTraverse Theatre
  2. Best mixed programme near EdinburghThe Brunton
  3. Best historic playhouse in the south-westTheatre Royal Dumfries
  4. Best for other Borders venues and activitiesLive Borders

eastgatearts.com at a glance

Updated October 2026
Domain age23 yearsRegistered Jun 3, 2003
Domain Rating49out of 100
Domain Authority44out of 100
Organic traffic3.5Kest. visits a month
Ranking keywords108est. search terms
Referring domains555websites linking to it
Backlinks2.2Klinks pointing to it

Traffic and link figures are estimates and change over time.

What eastgatearts.com offers

Eastgatearts.com is the online home of Eastgate Theatre, which describes itself as the Scottish Borders’ home for performance, film and creative community. It sits on Eastgate in Peebles, a town in the Scottish Borders, in a 19th-century church that has been converted into a theatre and arts centre, and it welcomes more than 50,000 visitors a year.

Evenings mix touring plays, concerts, comedy and films. Daytime brings adult classes, youth theatre, workshops and school groups.

What happens under eastgatearts.com's roof

eastgatearts.comA converted church in Peebles
  • TheatreTouring and local productions
  • Music, comedy and operaConcerts, stand-up and opera events
  • CinemaRegular film screenings
  • Classes and workshopsCourses for adults, children and schools
  • Festivals and community eventsProjects run with local groups
  • Café and barOpen to visitors as well as audiences

How eastgatearts.com is run

The venue is operated by Eastgate Theatre Community Arts Centre SCIO, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation with charity number SC024713 on the Scottish Charity Register, trading as Eastgate Theatre. Its principal funders are Creative Scotland and Live Borders. Ticket sales, memberships, the café and donations cover the rest, so regulars who see several events a season can support it directly by joining as members.

Where eastgatearts.com stands out

  • A full programme for a small town. Shows, films and classes in one building.
  • A distinctive building. Watching a show in a converted church is part of the draw.
  • Access. Some performances are tagged as accessibility events, and there is a dedicated access information page.

Where eastgatearts.com falls short

  • Size. A converted church holds far fewer people than a city theatre, so big touring productions rarely fit.
  • Location. For audiences outside the Tweed valley, Edinburgh’s larger venues are often easier to reach by public transport.

Who eastgatearts.com suits best

Stay with eastgatearts.com if you live in or near Peebles and want films, shows and weekly classes close to home, or youth theatre for your children. Switch if you want new plays, big touring musicals, or more than one show to choose from on a given night.

Planning a visit to eastgatearts.com

Each What’s On listing shows the date, price and any accessibility features. Arrive early to use the café and bar before the show. If you live locally, browse the Classes & Workshops section too: adult classes and youth theatre run as courses, so check start dates before the term begins.

eastgatearts.com vs. the alternatives

Programmes and operators as described on each organisation's own website, October 2026.
ServiceLocationProgrammeRun byBest for
eastgatearts.comBaseline
Peebles, Scottish Borders
Theatre, music, comedy, cinema, classes
A Scottish charity (SCIO)
A small-town venue with a bit of everything
#1Traverse Theatre
Edinburgh city centre
New plays and festival seasons
A Scottish theatre charity
Contemporary theatre
#2The Brunton
Musselburgh, East Lothian
Theatre, music, comedy, family shows and films
The Brunton Theatre Trust, a charity
Evenings out on Edinburgh's edge
#3Theatre Royal Dumfries
Dumfries, south-west Scotland
Drama, music and amateur productions
The Guild of Players, an amateur drama charity
A historic playhouse
#4Live Borders
Across the Scottish Borders
Sport, libraries, museums and culture
A charitable trust
Activities beyond one venue

eastgatearts.com vs. the alternatives in numbers

Estimated monthly visits from search

  • traverse.co.uk8.9K
  • eastgatearts.com3.5K
  • thebrunton.co.uk2K
  • liveborders.org.uk306
  • theatreroyaldumfries.co.uk34

Domain Rating (0–100)

  • traverse.co.uk63
  • liveborders.org.uk59
  • eastgatearts.com49
  • thebrunton.co.uk42
  • theatreroyaldumfries.co.uk39
Estimates as of October 2026; figures change month to month.

Four venues to try across southern Scotland

Each offers something the Peebles stage cannot.

#1

Traverse Theatre

Best for: New plays from Scotland and beyond

traverse.co.uk

The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh calls itself Scotland’s new writing theatre and presents work in partnership with the city’s festivals. It is the place to see contemporary drama before it tours, and an hour’s journey from Peebles. Its focus is narrower, so expect fewer films and community classes than a mixed arts centre.

Choose it ifyou want new plays and festival premieres.
Skip it ifyou want a cinema and classes under the same roof.
#2

The Brunton

Best for: A broad evening-out programme near Edinburgh

thebrunton.co.uk

The Brunton in Musselburgh, East Lothian, hosts theatre, music, comedy, dance and family shows, including a festive pantomime, plus midweek film screenings and National Theatre Live broadcasts. It also runs participatory arts for young people and all ages, so its mix is the closest to Eastgate here.

Choose it ifyou want a similar mix of shows within reach of Edinburgh.
Skip it ifyou need a venue within walking distance in the Borders.
#3

Theatre Royal Dumfries

Best for: A historic theatre in the south-west

theatreroyaldumfries.co.uk

The Theatre Royal in Dumfries opened in 1792 and is often described as Scotland’s oldest working theatre. Owned and managed by the Guild of Players, an amateur company formed in 1913, it hosts drama, music, comedy and the Guild’s own productions, which gives it a similar local spirit to Eastgate in a building with a very different history.

Choose it ifyou live in Dumfries and Galloway or love historic playhouses.
Skip it ifyou want regular cinema screenings.
#4

Live Borders

Best for: Finding other cultural venues and activities in the Borders

liveborders.org.uk

Live Borders is the charitable trust that runs many sports facilities, libraries, museums and cultural venues across the Scottish Borders. Its website is the place to find exhibitions, events and activities in other Borders towns when the Peebles programme does not have what you want.

Choose it ifyou want more to do across the Borders.
Skip it ifyou are looking for a single theatre to book.

Sites like eastgatearts.com: FAQ

How do I book tickets on eastgatearts.com?

Online at any time, or by phoning the box office on 01721 725 777, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Does eastgatearts.com show films?

Yes. Films have their own category in the What's On listings, so you can filter for screenings only.

Can I hire the venue behind eastgatearts.com?

Schools and community groups use the building for projects and events. Dates depend on the published programme, so ask the box office early.

How we compared sites like eastgatearts.com

Each of these 4 alternatives was compared against eastgatearts.com on location, programme, run by and best for, using each service's documentation, published policies and reputable reporting. No company paid to be included or ranked.Read our review method orreport a change.

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