Crowds gather for the third annual Durham Fringe Festival
The Durham Fringe Festival 2023, held from Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 July, was a five-day celebration of theatre, music, and comedy in the heart of Durham City. This year's festival featured a diverse range of performances in six venues, including the newly re-named Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, Cafédral, Klute, Fabio's Bar, and a stretch tent on Palace Green.
The festival was part of the Summer of Shakespeare festival, marking the 400th anniversary of the publication of the First Folio of the complete works of Shakespeare. Performances included timeless classics such as Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, and (Taming of) The Shrew, as well as modern adaptations and new works.
One of the highlights of the festival was the student-led performance of Macbeth in the Palace Green stretch tent. Alain Vendiola, an alumnus, attended the performance and found it extraordinary. Another student-led company, Sightline Productions, presented Chance at the festival, which was attended by Associate Professor Nadena Doharty from the Department of Sociology.
Six student-led companies from Durham Student Theatre and Music Durham performed at the festival, showcasing the talent and creativity of Durham's student community. In addition, seven Durham alumni companies will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this month, including The Durham Revue, The Durham Univ Comedy Collective, The Durham Student Theatre, Durham Improv, Palatinate Theatre, Durham Music Society, and Durham Experimental Theatre.
The Durham Fringe Festival Board Director, Daryl Folkard, commented that the festival was spectacular and had increased ticket sales by 81% compared to last year. Other notable performances included the dark comedy musical Potty the Plant, Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act, The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the life and crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, and Buckets of Blood - Fairy Tales Not For Kids with storyteller Eden Ballantyne.
The festival also featured performances for audiences of all ages, including Two bards and a Songbird with Jessa Liversidge at Cafédral and Kirsty Mann: Skeletons (WIP) at Klute. The festival concluded with a performance by four-piece band Cartoon Food at the newly re-named Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre.
The Durham Fringe Festival 2023 was a successful event that showcased the talent and creativity of Durham's student and alumni communities. With its diverse range of performances and increased ticket sales, the festival continues to grow and thrive as a key cultural event in Durham City.
