Musings on Life, Love, and DunsPlayFest by Jamie Mein

The Red lion, written by Jamie was full of joy!

I’m about to make a bonkers statement but stay with me. At DunsPlayFest 2026, I well and truly think I discovered the meaning of life.

 Told you it was going to be bonkers but I’m being entirely serious.

“What is this meaning you speak of?” I hear you ask. And “how on earth does DunsPlayFest fit into all this philosophical malarkey?” Well, I’m glad you asked. I had this epiphany at the epic closing party on the final night of the festival. Thanks to the spectacular ceilidh led by the fantastic band Jigginaboot and the banging tunes supplied the one and only DJ Leonard, I witnessed and was part of pure magic. People of all ages and walks of life dancing together. Tiny children mixing with old folk. Artists mixing with audience. No considerations of class, background, identity, or any kind of societal division. Just a load of people together enjoying themselves without a single inhibition. Feeling utterly free.

Ellie Zeegen in The Land Beyond the Forest

DunsPlayFest is a place that welcomes, encourages, and involves everyone. In our programme we try and include plays which reflect as many areas of society as possible and explore a wide range of different issues. Our events range from the highbrow to the lowbrow. For example, Ellie Zeegen’s exquisitely performed The Land Beyond The Forest unearthed the story of Emily Gerard, the anthropologist who inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. At the other end of the spectrum was Peter Lerpiniere’s Something Always Happens in Duns which used the most bizarre and delightfully silly humour and was performed without rehearsal but had serious undertones reflecting the current political climate. Two very different performances but both possessing equal artistic value and encapsulating the variety present at DunsPlayFest. Where else can you watch several very different shows in one day without having to move anywhere?

A personal highlight for me was Send For Paul Temple Again! A 1940s radio play series which, as per last year, the Duns Players brought back to life on the cabaret stage each night. This appealed not only to those who remembered the radio series as it was first broadcast between the 1930s and 1960s but also garnered a following from the very young. It was so lovely to be part of something which brought people of all ages together, everyone swapping theories and trying to work out whodunnit. A lovely communal experience between Templars onstage and Templars in the audience.

There were regulars of all ages to Send for Paul Temple, Again

This community and inclusivity is equally potent behind the scenes. The team running this year’s festival varied in age from 14-year-olds on work experience to… well, the much more seasoned. But we all get along, have such a great laugh, and learn from each other, regardless of who we are. Who we are doesn’t matter, what matters is our shared passion for theatre. Duns isn’t the most diverse of communities but our festival makes a conscious effort to include all and we reflect this onstage, offstage, backstage, front-of-house, and everywhere else.

This inclusivity is something that is, or at least should be, inherent in theatre itself. Theatre allows everyone to have a voice and tell their story, no matter who they are or what that story may be. Theatre brings people together from all echelons of society and allows us to learn more about ourselves and about each other. Our festival features performances from local aspiring playwrights, newly-graduated theatremakers, and highly experienced professional artists, all pulled together by our top-notch professional technicians. Our festival includes a programme of workshops for artists of all types to hone their skills. Our festival features a production created in collaboration with Duns Primary School and an afternoon of performances in local sheltered housing. Inclusivity, encouragement, and accessibility are at the forefront of all we do and are present in every aspect of the festival.

Performers of all ages graced our stage!

So, to return to my original point, what is the meaning of life? As far as I’m concerned, it’s joy. Pure, simple, unfiltered joy. I don’t think life can get any more fulfilling than people of all ages and backgrounds, some complete strangers, coming together, having a good time, and feeling wholeheartedly free. There’s certainly a time for being serious but especially in the world as it is right now, what we need most of all is just simple joy. DunsPlayFest provides that in spades. Thank you to John McEwen and Sara Best for a creating a magical space for us all to be challenged, get to know ourselves and each other better, and most importantly have fun. Thank you to all of the team who made it happen and long live DunsPlayFest!