The fifth Durham Fringe Festival in July 2025 boasts more than 110 acts across 270+ performances of theatre, music, stand-up comedy, comedy theatre, magic, spoken word, cabaret, dance, physical theatre, circus and children and youth shows.
Venues include Gala Theatre’s Studio, The City Theatre, Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham University's Department of Music, Fonteyn Ballroom and Vane Tempest at Durham SU (Dunelm House), Cafedral, Fabio's Bar and the Palace Green Stretch Tent, which will be surrounded by food and drink stalls.
Theatre offerings include a modern verse translation of Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew on the Palace Green stage, Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Bodysnatcher at The City Theatre, Night-Light Theatre CIC’s production of Queen of the Quack, Fur Coat No Knickers Theatre’s VANILLA and 92 Beats’s The Rubbish Puppets.
Other acts include Durham-based magician Tom Bolton, 18-year-old singer-songwriter Isabel Maria, stand-up comedy from Jake Donaldson, Phil Green and Cal Halbert, the latter one half of The Mimic Men, more comedy from the Durham Revue and fourteen shows for children and young people.
Dr Stephen Cronin, Durham Fringe CIC Director and festival founder, said, “it’s undoubtedly an exciting time for us, and we’re incredibly proud to be bringing to life such a diverse programme. However, the cultural sector is facing mounting challenges. We have not been immune to it this year, and sourcing the funding we need to bring the festival to life has been an uphill struggle.
“It has never been more important to support your local cultural venue, take a chance on new creative experiences and buy tickets to see shows. As audiences, we get so much from experiencing performing arts—wellbeing, education and time to switch off—and it’s always worth remembering the value we bring to artists when we turn up for them.”
Durham Fringe Festival runs from 23 to 27 July 2025. All tickets cost £10 (£7 concessions) or less, with offers of any three shows and family tickets, both at £24.