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Durham Fringe Festival’s fourth year showcases University student talent

13 July 2023
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For the fourth year in a row, Durham University is partnering with the Durham Fringe Festival to bring a programme of arts and culture in Durham City’s biggest arts festival. Running from Wednesday 24 – Sunday 28 July, this year’s Fringe is looking to be the biggest and best to date.

Eight venues will host the Durham Fringe across Durham City. From bars, cafes, and stretch tent on Palace Green, to the University’s Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, and Grade II-listed Dunelm House, which will house a brand new dance hub.

With shows for all the family, and featuring comedy, theatre, music, dance and much more, there is a performance for everyone.

Durham Fringe Festival Board Director and Durham University alumnus Daryl Folkard commented: “From humble beginnings we have grown to 90 acts putting on nearly 250 performances across 8 venues over 5 days at the end of July.

“As a former student I am especially excited that we are using Dunelm House as a venue for the first time this year. It seems fitting that we will be featuring dance in the Fonteyn Ballroom. As always, we are particularly grateful to the University without whose support the festival would not be possible.”

Representing our student talent

Six student productions are also heading to the Durham Fringe this year, including offerings across the University’s Student Performing Arts spectrum from music to theatre.

Northern Lights A Cappella, the UK’s premier A Cappella troupe made up of Durham students, are returning to the Fringe, fresh from competing at the world International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella finals in New York, where graduating student Lucie Fletcher won best soloist. They are bringing their touring show Retro to Remix, a journey through iconic pop artists of the last 60 years, featuring covers from artists including Adele, Taylor Swift, and Whitney Houston. Northern Lights A Cappella photograph by Andrew Grant and Kate Lgotina.

Sonder, presented by Wrong Tree Theatre, returns to the Durham stage after winning Best Play at the Durham Drama Festival in February. This play, based on the real words of people interviewed in Durham Market Place follows a group of strangers meeting at a County Durham bus stop, and explores the infinitely complex lives of the people you pass on the street, as well as the interplay between the City of Durham and the University that sits at its heart.

Two comedy performances - Mid-Laugh Crisis and Newspaper Punchlines from The Durham Revue (pictured) and Shellshock! Improvised Comedy respectively – will have audiences in stitches. The award-winning Durham Revue celebrates their 50th anniversary with 100% new material. Audiences are in line for an hour of side-splitting sketches from one of the UK’s most famous student comedy groups. The Revue is often a pathway into successful comedy writing and performing, with alumni including Ed Gamble, Stevie Martin, Ambika Mod and many more. Newspaper Punchlines sees brand new material created on the spot, with an original front page headline based on audience suggestions each night. The troupe will deliver the funniest news stories full of scandals, quirks and laughs hot off the press.

Foot of the Hill Theatre Company brings Technically: A Musical to the line-up (pictured). Join the technicians as they grapple with a show in pieces and less than a day before the curtains raise. Will the techies be able to save the day to ensure the stage isn’t set on fire, the props are mended and the cues are all in place? This enjoyable meta-musical bagged Best New Writing at the Durham Drama Festival.

At The City Theatre venue, the Woodplayers Troupe (Collingwood College’s resident student theatre company) will have you on the edge of your seat with Payback Party. Four acquaintances receive a Facebook invite to a surprise birthday party. The cast skilfully delves into ever deeper layers of secrets as the night progresses. Past relationships are revealed, revenge plots are intertwined and more. Happy birthday…to who?

The Durham Fringe Festival runs from Wednesday 24 – Sunday 28 July (inclusive) across Durham city centre, with performances starting from 10am and running until late.

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