1985. America sickens.

Prior’s boyfriend leaves him after a devastating AIDS diagnosis. Joe examines his relationships to Louis and Harper. And an angel descends, declaring that great work will begin. What is divine intervention to the human urge to endure?

Very little seems to connect these people teetering on the edge of seismic change, and yet an angel descends and declares that it is time the great work began. No-one will be spared. What is divine intervention to the human urge to endure? What is heartbreak to the unshakeable humour of existence? Across two halves of one story, Prior and the rest of America wrestle with past, present, and future to assert their right to go on, in spite of everything.

Content Warning: Racism // Religious trauma // Antisemitism // Homophobia // Scars // Emotional Abuse // Drug Use // Drug Addiction // Medical Content // Trauma // Seizures // Explicit Sex Scene // Partial Nudity // Death // Blood // Fire // Hallucinations

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This event will take place at the Mark Hillery Arts Centre

Part 1 - Millenium Approaches

Doors will open at 12:30/ 18:30

The Show will start at 13:00/ 19:00

There will two 10-minute intervals during the performance

Note: If you buy tickets for both parts at the same time, a discount will be automatically applied and you get the second ticket half-price.

1985. America sickens.

Prior’s boyfriend leaves him after a devastating AIDS diagnosis. Joe examines his relationships to Louis and Harper. And an angel descends, declaring that great work will begin. What is divine intervention to the human urge to endure?

Very little seems to connect these people teetering on the edge of seismic change, and yet an angel descends and declares that it is time the great work began. No-one will be spared. What is divine intervention to the human urge to endure? What is heartbreak to the unshakeable humour of existence? Across two halves of one story, Prior and the rest of America wrestle with past, present, and future to assert their right to go on, in spite of everything.

Content Warning: Racism // Religious trauma // Antisemitism // Homophobia // Scars // Emotional Abuse // Drug Use // Drug Addiction // Medical Content // Trauma // Seizures // Explicit Sex Scene // Partial Nudity // Death // Blood // Fire // Hallucinations

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This event will take place at the Mark Hillery Arts Centre

Part 2 - Perestroika

Dooprs will open at 18:30

The Show will start at 19:00

There will two 10-minute intervals during the performance

Note: If you buy tickets for both parts at the same time, a discount will be automatically applied and you get the second ticket half-price.

With music by Stephen Schwartz ('Wicked', 'Godspell'), 'Pippin' is a captivating story of power, love, and magic! Following a sold-out run of 'RENT' in February, don't miss your chance to watch TDTC's take on this iconic musical.

Enter a world of magic and spectacle as a mysterious performance troupe, led by the Leading Player, tell the story of Pippin, a young prince with extraordinary dreams and aspirations on his search for meaning and significance. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, temptation and the intrigues of political power. In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavours, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day. This circus-inspired musical will captivate and dazzle all those who come to watch, and we cannot wait to invite you into our big top tent!

Content Warning: Adult Themes / Depictions of Violencea and Death / Sexual Content / Strobe Lighting / Audience Interaction

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This event will take place at the Assembly Rooms Theatre 

Doors will open at 14:00/ 19:00

The Show will start at 14:30/ 19:30

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

TDTC's production of 'Pippin' is supporting Safety Curtain, a charity which helps performers outside the UK in poverty or dangerous circumstances. As such TDTC will be donating 50% of profits from the production. You can find out more about Safety Curtain at https://www.safetycurtain.org.uk/

We're back (again). Rounding out a year of sold-out open mics, the Stand Society presents something ever so slightly different: professionalism! Featuring some of the hottest acts from the UK Comedy circuit as well as our home-grown talent, the Stand returns to Fabio's to do what it does best. 7/6/23. 8:00. Fabs. Be there.

Featuring the very best of the Stand over the last two years, the Pro Show is one of your last chances to see this generation of student comics- that is, before they're famous. A sequel to our hugely successful Pro Show in 2022, we're hosting our comedy all-stars along with professional comics from the North Eastern circuit. 7/6/23 Fabs. 8pm.

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This event will take place at Fabio's Bar 66 Saddler St, Durham DH1 3NP 

Doors will open at 19:30  

The Show will start at 20:00

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

Among various conversations, debates and arguments this two-hander gradually explores how the act of sex, sexuality and gender influences human connection, emotional availability and at its fundamental root: love.

Man and Woman meet. Man and Woman have sex. Man and Woman fall in love. But the cracks have already started to form...

Are we slaves to our sexual history? Is love definitively an act of mutual commitment or can it be transactional and one-sided? Viewed in a kitchen and a bedroom, these are some of the questions that ‘If that’s what you want…then yes’ attempts to navigate.

Content Warning: references to sexual activity / sexism / homophobia / sexual assault and statutory rape / alcohol

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This event will take place at the City Theatre

Doors will open at 19:00  

The Show will start at 19:30

There is a 15-minute scheduled interval during the event

Disillusioned in both his professional and personal life, psychiatrist Martin Dysart's ethical crisis is compounded by the arrival of a new patient, 17 year old Alan Strang, convicted of a shocking crime.

Disillusioned psychiatrist Martin Dysart is introduced to a new and unusual patient. Alan Strang, 17 years old, has been convicted of blinding six horses in a random attack at the stables where he works. As he uncovers the murky and fervid history behind Alan’s violence, Dysart’s own dissatisfied existence is broken down and scrutinised. A play about sexuality and repression, madness and stagnation, Peter Shaffer’s Equus examines the dangerous consequences of stifled passion and stunted development.

Content Warning: Mental illness // animal cruelty // religious trauma and self harm // partial nudity and strong sexual references

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This event will take place at the Alington House

Doors will open at 18:30

The Show will start at 19:00

There will be a 15-minute interval during the event

Ooook! celebrate their 15th anniversary with an evening social for members past and present.

In 15 years, Ooook! have staged countless shows and raised over £30,000 for a range of charities. We invite anyone with any involvement whatsoever in the company, no matter how much you've contributed or in what capacity, alumni and current students, to join us and celebrate all things Ooook! We can't wait to see you and bring together 15 years of Ooook! history, with all profits going to the Orangutan Foundation, Charity Number 1095660.

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This event will take place at Vane Tempest, Durham Students' Union

Doors will open at 19:00

The Show will start at 19:00

There will not be a scheduled interval during the event

A dramatic comedy monologue written by Alan Bennett and a must-see classic from his famous “Talking Head’s” series.

Graham, a middle-aged bachelor, emotionally unintelligent and chronically dependent on his mother, finds life difficult enough at the best of times. When Mother meets an old flame and seems set to marry him, Graham's old insecurities rear their ugly heads.

Content Warning: References to mental illness and racism

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This event will take place at the Trevelyan College Dowrick Suite (the building opposite Trevelyan College's main entrance)

Doors will open at 14:00

The Show will start at 14:30

There is no planned interval during the event

For one night only - the annual Miscast Showcase is back! Watch an incredible troupe play their dream miscast roles - in solos, duets and group numbers. Guaranteed to make you laugh in bewilderment, and maybe even shed a tear!

This year's Miscast Showcase will be a special cabaret-style event on Bede Lawn. This troupe of 18 incredible actors will be performing a variety of popular musical theatre numbers, each with a miscast twist. Anticipate an unforgettable summer night!

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This event will take place at the Hild Bede Lawn

Entry will open at 19:00

The Show will start at 19:30

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

The story of a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, masked musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opera House.

The Phantom of the Opera is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her. As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorises the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats.

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This event will take place at the Leech Hall, St.John's College

Doors will open at 19:00 (for the matinee doors open at 13:30)

The Show will start at 19:30 (matinee 14:00)

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

When a quest for true love is thwarted by a hilarious series of enchantments-gone-wrong from a mystical fairy world, this charming play explores one hysterical night of Shakespearean chaos.

Hermia and Lysander are in love, and flee to the forest pursued by Demetrius, intent on marrying Hermia, and Helena, intent on loving Demetrius. Meanwhile, in the warring fairy world, Puck and Oberon hatch a plan to trick Queen Titania into loving a beast, and Puck seizes this opportunity to cause chaos when he encounters a gang of bumbling mechanicals rehearsing a play. As the three hilarious plots collide with the fairy Queen doting on a bewildered ass-headed man and the lovers blindly chasing each other around the forest, will the farcical madness of this summer’s night ever end?

Content Warning: Audience Participation

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This event will take place at Fellows Garden, Durham Castle, University College

Doors will open at 13:30  

The Show will start at 14:00

There will be a 20-minute interval during the performance

Welcome to Shakespeare in the Garden! We encourage people to come along thirty minutes before the show to set up their picnics in the beautiful Fellows Garden. You are more than welcome to bring your own food to the event, however, we ask for any alcohol to be bought from the Undie (Castle College Bar) due to licencing purposes. Castle Theatre Company will be providing seating, however, we also recommend bringing picnic blankets or your own chairs for a full 'in the garden' experience! We cannot wait to see you for some midsummer madness!

Shakespeare's Othello is a story of race, jealousy and betrayal. Othello, the Moor of Venice, is manipulated by his jilted lieutenant Iago into paranoia and self-destruction with tragic consequences.

Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion schemes against his general; Othello, the Moor of Venice. His bitterness intertwining with the resentment the Venetians hold for Othello as a black man, despite his many victories for them. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful stirring Othello's jealousy, emasculating him and setting events with tragic consequences in motion. This production will reframe this timeless story of race, jealousy and betrayal in a contemporary setting.

Content Warning: Adultery / Death / Racism / Misogyny / Physical Violence / Suicide / Intimate Partner Violence / Murder / Islamophobia / Slut-Shaming / Flashing Lights

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This event will take place at the Shakespeare Community Association Hall

Doors will open at 18:00

The Show will start at 18:30

There will be a 10-minute interval during the event

The annual performing arts Palatinate Awards are back!

Hosted at The Mount Oswald Hub, it will be a night celebrating the hard work and acheiments of students across music and theatre here at Durham.

Street food (including veggie and vegan options) is included in the price and drinks will be available to pre-order once you've got your ticket!

Seven strangers. One room. A day of reckoning. What starts as a normal therapy session soon becomes a surreal nightmare as the group must confront their inner demons.

Meeting Room 7 follows seven people attending weekly “reformist therapy” sessions, with the goal of overcoming a major personal flaw. The play takes place on the anniversary of the start of their sessions, and the group decides to celebrate by getting to know each other. But as the session goes on, they begin to realise that all is not as it seems. One by one, they are called upon by a mysterious, disembodied voice and made to confront their inner demons. Driven to desperation, they begin turning on each other as they try to get to the bottom of their unearthly situation.

Content Warning: Explicit language / violence / threats of death / derealization / flashing lights

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This event will take place at the Alington House

Doors will open at 18:30

The Show will start at 19:00

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

The UK's largest ever immersive student theatre production delivers Durham audiences an electrifying, modern adaptation of the Shakespearean romance-tragedy to explore through a purpose-built set inside the Student Union.

Immerse yourselves in a totally transformed Fonteyn Ballroom in Dunelm House as an all-female cast reinvigorate the drama of Antony and Cleopatra's doomed love affair to fit a more modern landscape. A highlight in Durham's celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare's First Folio, this ground-breaking immersive performance promises an evening of entertainment with a fully functioning bar on set.

Content Warning: Suicide / substance abuse / racist themes / flashing lights

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This event will take place at Fonteyn Ballroom, The Student Union in Dunelm House

Doors will open at 18:30 (13:00 Saturday matinee)

The Show will start at 19:00 (13:30 Saturday matinee)

There will be a 15-minute interval during the event

In an adult cinema breaking all laws of time and place, six strangers congregate to watch the same dirty movie. When one cosmic pervert forces the rest into conversation, the realities of adult entertainment are confronted: the pornographic is personal, is political.

There's Chuck Cox, a porn star from 1972, still glowing in his prime. Grant and Shirley Campbell, and their marriage on the rocks, watch from London, 1986. Besides them is Mick, a closeted gay teen, with an obsession with Damon Albarn, trying to escape the claustrophobia of 90s Great Britain. Finally Vinnie, a survivor of the 2014 Tumblr era of the Internet, who just wants to sleep. Oh, and Perv.

Content Warning: references to (and audio of fictional) p*rnographic content, s*xual activity, CSAM, substance abuse and AIDS / sexist language / homophobic language / partial nudity.

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This event will take place at the Assembly Rooms Theatre

Doors will open at 19:30  

The Show will start at 20:00

There won't be a scheduled interval during the event

Six Strangers. One Funeral. A million-dollar inheritance at stake.Leaving no grave-stoned unturned, how far will they go to get their final favour from a dead man?

Putting the fun into Funeral. This is a seriously Grave Affair.

Six Strangers. One Funeral. A million-dollar inheritance at stake.Leaving no grave-stoned unturned, how far will they go to get their final favour from a dead man? Returning after a sold-out Edinburgh fringe run, Woodplayers Troupe are putting the fun in funeral, with this bold new devised dark comedy. We all want to know what people will say about us when we die. But William Bebach doesn't want to guess, he wants to know. Planning the rehearsal for his funeral, Mr Bebach thought uniting the ghosts from the past seemed like a good idea. But sometimes it really is best to take things to your grave.

Content Warning: Swearing

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This event will take place at Mark Hillery Arts Centre

Doors will open at 14:00

The Show will start at 14:30

There is no planned interval during the event

Ripped apart by the bitter divisions of their parents, two young people will risk everything to be together.

What if your first true love was someone you’d been told to hate?

Ripped apart by the bitter divisions of their parents, two young people will risk everything to be together.

The most famous story of love at first sight explodes with intense passion and an irresistible desire for change. Will this spark a revolution or will division continue to tear through generations?

Oh... and it's in the 1990's!

Content Warning: Suicide

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This event will take place at the Platfrom 2, Stephenson College

Doors will open at 19:00 (Friday) and 18:30 (Saturday)

The Show will start at 19:30 (Friday) and 19:00 (Saturday)

There will be a 10-minute interval during the event

Join us at The D’Oscars 2023 at Ramside Hall. Come and celebrate the year of DST in the best way possible. With awards, live music, drinks and the best company get your ticket now… your carriage awaits…

‘All that glitters is not gold’, but it is at The D’Oscars! Tickets for The D’Oscars 2023 are out now! Come and join us for the highlight of the DST calendar. With awards, live music, comedy, food and drinks and the best company get your ticket now.

Dress code: Black Tie

Theme: All That Glitters

Timings: 7 pm - 1 am (coaches included in price)

Ticket price includes:

- Transport to and from the venue

- Prosecco reception

- 3 course sit down meal

- Live entertainment

- Professional photographer

Doors Open at 6.30pm

A facial social commentary set at the turn of the 19th century in London, which follows a large ensemble of outrageous characters as they navigate love, depression, passion, and duty.

You will laugh, cry, and cry with laughter as Kit, our [unreliable] narrator, weaves this tale which explores themes ranging from love stories to the corruption in politics, and mental health issues, all masked within the framework of a period "comedy of manners" piece.

The ensemble cast brings this captivating narrative to life, with a few key characters embodying significant struggles and symbolising relevant modern societal issues. Augie, the younger son of an abusive father and peer, represents the eternal quest for acceptance and finding one's place in society—a struggle as prevalent now as it was then. Bige, the country squire, personifies the challenges of men's mental health, and the intricate navigation of love. Jonah, a priest, symbolizes the flaws within organized religion, while Ida and Penelope embody the fight for women's rights and equality in society. In essence, "The Folly of Man" weaves together four interconnecting tales into one compelling story.

Content Warning: Murder/Suicide/Discussions of Mental Health/Outdated Views (in a satirical context)/Scenes of a Sexual Nature

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This event will take place at the St Chad's College Quad

Doors will open at 19:15

The Show will start at 19:45

There is a 15-minute planned interval during the event

Step into the extraordinary world of DUZNEY, the spellbinding showcase presented by TDTC. In honour of Disney's momentous 100th anniversary, this mesmerising production invites you to experience the enchantment of beloved Disney classics. Relive the magic with timeless favourites and rediscover forgotten treasures that hold a special place in our hearts.

With a talented cast bringing these iconic characters to life, DUZNEY promises an evening filled with the essence of what makes every Disney movie a cherished treasure: the warm embrace of nostalgia, the infectious joy of fun, the echoes of laughter, and the transformative power of pure magic.

Prepare to embark on a journey you won't soon forget, as DUZNEY weaves its spell and ignites your imagination. Get ready to be captivated by the extraordinary talent and immerse yourself in the wonder of DUZNEY's magical world.

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This event will take place at Mark Hillery Arts Centre

Doors will open at 19:30

The Show will start at 20:00

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

Be More Chill is the story of high schooler Jeremy Heere, who swallows a tiny supercomputer in order to raise his social standing and win the girl of his dreams.

All Jeremy Heere wants to do is survive high school. However, residing at the bottom of the social ladder left little hope for the uncool and isolated Jeremy. But, when a solution arises, Jeremy finds it difficult to resist. Enter the SQUIP, a Japanese nanocomputer in the form of an easy-to-swallow pill. The SQUIP will implant itself in your brain and tell you what to wear, what to say, and how to act in order to achieve ultimate coolness. However, things aren’t all as they seem. The SQUIP takes an unexpected, darker turn, and raises the question: is Jeremy willing to lose his best friend, his crush, his classmates, and the whole world, all in an effort to Be More Chill? Set to a fun pop-rock score by Joe Iconis, Be More Chill is a hilarious sci-fi tale of high school and one boy’s quest to fit in, and it is not one to miss.

Content Warning: Brief Suicidal Thoughts/ Homophobia/ Profanity/ Sexual Assault/ Haze

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This event will take place at the Assembly Rooms Theatre

Doors will open at 19:00

The Show will start at 19:30

There will be a 20-minute interval during the event

Shellshock's crack team of historians has unearthed evidence of never-before-seen stories from years past! Join their museum curator as they unveil a hilarious brand new exhibit based on your suggestions!

Hysterical Artefacts is a narrative-based improvised comedy show, set in a historical period of your choosing. Devised specifically for Shellshock's summer Fringe tour, the show's format is a brand new longform improv structure. Full of character-driven stories, whacky plotlines, and more anachronisms than you can shake a stick at, Hysterical Artefacts is not to be missed. Whether you love history or not, there are laughs aplenty waiting for you. Join Shellshock! to discover the funniest stories that time forgot (because they never really happened)!

This is a preview of Hysterical Artefacts before it tours this summer.

Content Warning: As the show is improvised, we can't predict its content exactly, but we always strive to keep our shows light-hearted and avoid uncomfortable topics. There will also be audience interaction and swearing.

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This event will take place at Vane Tempest, DSU

Doors will open at 19:40

The Show will start at 20:00

There is no planned interval during the show

Elysium Theatre Company presents:

THE DURHAM SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

MACBETH and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

by William Shakespeare

Two of Shakespeare's most famous plays presented in the heart of the historic city of Durham to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the First Folio of his complete works.

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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM directed by Dan Bradford

"But we are spirits of another sort..."

Magic, mystery and mayhem as four young lovers flee Athens to be together only to find themselves lost in the dream-like world of the Faerie.

One of Shakespeare's funniest comedies, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is full of his most-loved characters: Bottom, Puck, Titania and Oberon and many more. Elysium brings them to life in a spectacular production suitable for all the family.

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ELYSIUM THEATRE COMPANY is a Durham-based theatre company that brings award-winning work to the North (www.elysiumtc.co.uk). Join us for our most exciting and ambitious project yet.

"This company can do no wrong." - Reviewer Number 9

Supported by Durham University, Durham County Council, Culture Durham and the English Association.

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£20 Standard

£13.50 Concessions (OAPs, Students, NHS etc)

£10 Special Discount (people in receipt of benefits, Durham University Students, u11s)

£50 Family Ticket (2 standard & 2 u18s @12.50 each - must be sold in multiples of 4)

10% off groups over 10

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This event will take place at the Assembly Rooms Theatre

Doors will open at 19:00

The Show will start at 19:30