Borderlines groups share Christmas celebrations

29th December 2023

While our Christmas production The Nutcracker: A Christmas Fairytale spellbinds audiences in our main auditorium this festive season, and our Education department’s Tale Trail to the Nutcracker entertains toddlers and their families in our Studio, our Borderlines department’s regular groups have been sharing performances and celebrations of their own too this December.

Strathcross, a group made up of adults with learning difficulties, created their own version of The Nutcracker to show back to friends and family…

A girl in a Christmas jumper holds a doll and looks out into the distance. Picture from the Strathcross version of The Nutcracker 2023. Credit: Andrew Billington — Credit: Andrew Billington

A girl sleeps holding a doll. Around her the atmosphere is icy and blue. Picture from the Strathcross version of The Nutcracker 2023. Credit: Andrew Billington — Credit: Andrew Billington

…as did the Borderlines Young People’s Theatre Company, which gives young people who’ve been part of previous Borderlines projects a chance to continue pursuing performing arts longer-term.

A girl holds up a teddy bear, looking excitedly at it. Picture from the Borderlines Young People's Theatre Company's version of The Nutcracker 2023. Credit: Andrew Billington — Credit: Andrew Billington

A group of young performers wear grey caps which have mouse ears and whiskers on them and embody a horde of mice. Picture from the Borderlines Young People's Theatre Company's version of The Nutcracker 2023. Credit: Andrew Billington — Credit: Andrew Billington

Ukrainian families who had been attending the Sunflowers cultural café at the New Vic this year came together to perform their own ‘Vertep’, a version of the Nativity, at Newcastle Congregational Church.

Wide shot of the whole nativity scene. Picture from the Vertep at Newcastle Congregational Church, performed by Ukrainian families. Credit: Jenny Harper. — Credit: Jenny Harper

Director of New Vic Borderlines Sue Moffat directs the nativity scene. Picture from the Vertep at Newcastle Congregational Church, performed by Ukrainian families. Credit: Jenny Harper. — Credit: Jenny Harper

Meanwhile the Next Chapter group – a community drama project that gives a voice to those with experiences of mental health, homelessness and addiction – took to the New Vic bar for a quiz night with a difference.