There are some spaces that quietly transform you. Not by force, not with grand declarations, just by their sheer intention, warmth and the people who show up for them.

Returning to DunsPlayFest this year wasn’t just a follow-up from the first edition of Unveiled. It was a return to something deeply rooted in my artistic spirit. A rediscovery of the many languages of performance, creativity and a witnessing of what happens when community is given a stage of its own.

The performances, were electric, at times heart wrenchingly profound. Diverse, bold, intimate, hilarious. However what pulled at me most this year wasn’t just what happened under the lights. It was what was happening behind the scenes, in the hearts and stories of the volunteers.

I began asking them: What difference has volunteering at DunsPlayFest made to your life? The answers were raw, powerful.

“I moved here and felt invisible. Now I help run other things too.”

“What volunteering has done for me these past few years has increased my confidence, self worth and improved my mental health”

“Given me a social life.”

“I’ve never really felt part of my community before, until now.”

“A belonging, It gets me out of bed.”

“Meeting lots of locals, I’m much more involved with the community now, great! Feel like I’m properly living”

“I wasn’t born here. I moved here and didn’t think I’d ever fit in. Now I help run things. Now I belong.”

“This festival gives me a reason to get out, to take part. It makes me feel seen.”

“I had never volunteered before. Now I can’t imagine not doing it.”

“It’s given me the confidence to try new things, not just here but everywhere in my life.”

Confidence, self-esteem, purpose, gifts far beyond the spotlight. One person told me they’d begun organising other events in the area simply because this gave them the belief they could.

Young Blood, Big Heart: Jamie’s Journey from Spotlight to Stewardship

It’s not every day you meet someone like Jamie Mein.

At just sixteen, Jamie is helping build the wider stage itself. A passionate performer from a young age, Jamie’s roots run deep in the Duns theatre scene. He grew up immersed in the vibrant world of the Duns and District Amateur Operatic Society (DDAOS), developing an early love for musicals and acting that has only grown stronger with time.

But this year marked a turning point.

Jamie is now not just a performer, but a playwright and a trustee for DunsPlayFest. An extraordinary role for someone so young and one he takes on with genuine passion and humility.

“Being part of DunsPlayFest has made a huge difference to my life”

His enthusiasm is heart warming. Whether he’s writing, rehearsing, helping organise, or simply showing up to support others Jamie embodies the spirit of what community theatre can be: inclusive, empowering, and transformative.

What makes this all the more beautiful is how DunsPlayFest recognises and uplifts young voices, not just as future artists, but as present-day leaders.

Also…

It’s not just the volunteers. Another quote is the from the audience that turned up for a performance by P5 children based on a murder mystery. One woman told me:

“I was supposed to be at work, but my boss gave me the time off. That’s my niece up there”

Spotlight: The Little Ones Who Stole the Stage

Directed by Karen Anderson and musical assistant director the dedicated Katie Forbes, the show was full of laughter and unexpected twists. But it wasn’t just the story that kept the crowd hooked. It was the humour. The cheeky timing. The absolute commitment. There was something about seeing those P5 children step onto the stage, into a fully-fledged murder mystery extravaganza. Pride beaming from the their faces. The bravery it takes to stand up and pretend to be someone else. It was funny, bold, elusive, well played!

Kids becoming. Becoming characters, becoming confident, becoming seen.

In the audience? Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, classmates, neighbours. It was heart, it was community.

The joy in the air was contagious.

Overall

Sheer art. This festival doesn’t just entertain, it heals, uplifts, includes. From acting to dance to workshops. From background visionaries, volunteer team, tech crew to family-filled rows and theatre-lovers it’s proof of what happens when art becomes community.

This isn’t just about theatre. It’s about life.
It’s about remembering who you are when someone hands you the mic and believes you have something to say.

And personally? I rediscovered that scriptwriting still lives in my bones. That improvisation still thrills me. That photographing theatre wakes something alive in my lens and soul.

A well earned congratulations to the team pulling this together!

Last year DunsPlayFest changed how I approach my personal artwork. This year, it has evolved again.

www.dunsplayfest.org.uk