Elysium Theatre Company presents OTHELLO by William Shakespeare

part of the Durham Shakespeare Festival 2024

“Perdition catch my soul but I do love thee, and when I love thee not, chaos is come again.”

Award-winning Elysium Theatre Company returns to the Assembly Rooms with new production of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy of love.

Cyprus is under threat from an invasion from the Turks. The Duke of Venice sends his best general, Othello the Moor, to defend the island in its hour of need. Othello is newly married to the young and beautiful Desdemona. Their love seems indestructible. But as the fate of Europe hangs in the balance Othello’s malevolent officer Iago has other plans. Determined to destroy his commander, he rips apart Othello’s love for Desdemona by sewing seeds of jealousy in his tortured mind.

Praise for previous productions at the Assembly Rooms:

'Extraordinary... electrifying.' - Mirage News, 'Macbeth' 2023

'A tremendous success... truly excellent.' - Palatinate, 'Reiver' 2023

'As powerful today as it was when it shocked European audiences.' - NE Theatre Guide,'A Doll's House' 2022

www.elysiumtc.co.uk

SUPPORTED BY THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND

£18 Standard    

£13.50 Concession

£10 Student

£7.50 DST Members

This event takes place at Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre

Doors will open at 7pm, the Performance will start at 7.30pm and finish approximately at 10:30pm, including a 15-minute interval

Elysium Theatre Company & Durham University present

a round table discussion and Q&A:

OTHELLO & SHAKESPEARE’S TRAGIC VISION

7pm-8.30pm Friday 18th October, the Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham.

Pay what you can.

Shakespeare, Othello, war, race, gender and Shakespeare tragic vision will all be discussed by a panel of experts from a wide range of backgrounds, followed by questions taken from the floor.

Hosted by Simon James, Professor of English at Durham University the panel includes:

Dr Pauline Kiernan, leading Shakespeare scholar, writer and author of Shakespeare’s Theory Of Drama, Staging Shakespeare and Filthy Shakespeare.

Jake Murray, artistic director of Elysium Theatre Company & director of ‘Othello’.

Dr Brian Powers, ex-serviceman, Vann Fellow in Christianity and the Armed Forced and Executive Director of the International Centre for Moral Injury.

Dr Elizabeth Swann, Assistant Professor In Early Modern Literary Studies at Durham University

PART OF THE DURHAM SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2024

Step into a night of smooth rhythms and timeless melodies as Durham University Jazz Society presents 'High Standards'.

Celebrate the start of the academic year with live performances of iconic jazz standards, delivered with style and passion from our experienced performers. Whether you're an enthusiast or just looking for a memorable evening, this is one event you won't want to miss!

£7 Standard

£5 Concession/Durham Student Music Members

This production takes place at the Durham University Music Department Concert Room, Divinity House, Palace Green.

This performance will begin at 8pm, and will last approximately 90 minutes. Doors will open half an hour before the performance begins.

With terror in the backstreets of London, Dr Lanyon delves into a world of supernatural horror as he uncovers the mysteries of his friend Dr Jekyll.

Sixthside Theatre presents Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, a suspenseful tale of mad science and concerned friends. Join us in the midnight streets of Victorian London, where Dr Lanyon and company have become suspicious of their respected friend Dr Jekyll, who seemingly dissappears on nights where violent assaults and terror occur.

Filled with supernatural horror and terrifying fascination, this play delves deep into the world of Robert Louis Stevenson's grandiose novel, and explores the grief and privilege that lurks within it.

Content Warnings: Violence / Sexual violence

Standard £6

Concession £4

Durham Student Theatre Member £4

This performance takes place at the Dowrick Suite, Trevelyan College, Elvet Hill Rd, Durham, DH1 3LN.

This performance will begin at 6.30pm and last 105 minutes. The doors will open 15 minutes before the start of the production.

It's a dark and stormy night. Jim, the inn-keeper's granddaughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the old sailor's feet sits a huge sea-chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in - and her dangerous voyage begins.

Durham Student Theatre presents its annual Freshers’ Play, this year taking on Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic Treasure Island adapted by Bryony Lavery. A tale of murder and mutiny, bounty and buccaneers, Lavery’s adaptation is an oftentimes comedic retelling of a pirate classic. Jim finds herself in a dangerous yet exciting world she is not used to. Through periods of rebellion, violence and her complex and manipulative relationship with Long John Silver, Jim learns how to grow up and make her own way in a new environment. This production will have every audience member riled up and ready to seek their own adventure.

£7 Standard

£6.50 Concession

£6 DST Members

This event takes place at Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre.

Doors will open at 7pm, the performance will start at 7.30pm and finish approximately at 9.30pm.

The annual Freshers’ Showcase! A staple of Durham Student Theatre’s Michaelmas calendar where for one night only, Durham’s newest musical theatre talent takes to the stage performing iconic musical theatre classics.

For one night only, Tone Deaf Theatre Company presents their annual Freshers' Showcase!

An eight-year-long tradition promising a night filled with incredible musical theatre talent from Durham University's Freshers! From 'Wicked' to 'Oklahoma' and 'Hadestown' to 'Les Mis'- the range of styles on display guarantees a fantastic night brimming with nostalgia for everyone.

Get your tickets now to see what this year's freshers have in store!

£6 Standard

£5.50 Concession

£4.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This production will take place at the The Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 N Bailey, Durham DH1 3ET, United Kingdom.

Performances will begin at 7.30pm and last until approximately 9pm with a 15 minute interval. Doors will open half an hour before performances begin.

The Snow-Globe presents "Little Women (Clapham)". A stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel that will make you feel warm and fuzzy this Winter!

The Snow-Globe are proud to present this "Little Women" adaptation by Peter Clapham. This adaptation is true to the beloved novel, following the four March sisters' journey through adolescence. The show will tug on your heartstrings, with themes of family and growing up.

£7 Standard

£6 Concession

£5 Durham Student Theatre Members

This production takes place at Mount Oswald, Durham, DH1 3FP.

Performances begin at 7:30pm and will last approximately 2 hours with a 15 minute interval. Doors will open half an hour before the performance begins.

Ernestine Ashworth turns 17, then 18, then 41, 70, and 101. Across five generations, countless dreams, and a single cake baked over a century, she reflects on her place in the universe.

Rocket Theatre Company presents "Birthday Candles" by Noah Haidle, a poignant play that explores the dichotomy of human existence—our lives are both unique and unremarkable. It follows Ernestine Ashworth from her rebellious teenage years, when she vows to surprise the universe, to old age, where she reflects on a life marked by both joy and loss. Through a series of birthdays, anchored by the tradition of baking a cake, Ernestine navigates love, heartbreak, and the inevitable chaos of life.

Content Warnings: Death

£7 Standard

£6 Concession

£6.50 DST Members

This event takes place at Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre

Doors will open at 7pm, the performance will start at 7.30pm and finish approximately at 9pm.

Join Oswald's Players in this hilarious interactive musical adventure - our second annual student-written pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk!

When the affable young Jack is forced to sell his beloved pet cow Gertie by his overbearing mother, he could have never predicted the beans he traded her for would magically sprout into an enormous beanstalk! It's up to him to explore whatever he finds up it - along with new friends, foes, or even a Giant... His family depends on it!

Content Warnings: Light comic violence and some strong language.

Standard: £6

Concession: £5.50

This production takes place at Mound Oswald Hub, Durham, DH1 3FP.

This production starts at 7:00pm and lasts approximately two hours with an interval.

‘Pour yourself a cup of ambition’ and book your tickets, as DULOG meets Dolly Parton in this hilarious and heart-warming tale of friendship, female empowerment and fighting for what’s right!

Based on the classic comedy film from 1980, ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ follows a trio of hard-working women and firm friends who, fed up with slaving away for their sexist, self-absorbed boss, plan to put him through a little office payback… With its cast of witty and wise-cracking characters, spunkily subversive message of standing up against The Man, and a pitch-perfect country-pop score by the iconic Dolly Parton, DULOG kickstarts its 75th anniversary year in style with this fun and feisty musical – ‘enough to drive you crazy if you let it!’

Content Warnings: Sexual harassment / Sexual content and innuendo / Strong language

£8.50 Standard

£7.50 Concessions

£7 Durham Student Theatre Members

This production takes place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 N Bailey, Durham, DH1 3ET.

This performance begins at 7.30pm (2.30pm on the matinee), and doors open 30 minutes before the performance begins.

Durham Opera Ensemble presents a spectacular evening of opera’s finest arias, duets and choruses spanning Mozart to Gilbert and Sullivan.

Enjoy an evening of drama, passion and timeless music as Durham Opera Ensemble proudly presents A Night at the Opera. Bringing to life some of opera’s most beloved arias, duets and choruses spanning Mozart to Gilbert and Sullivan, this promises to be a spectacular celebration of both the genre and Durham’s exceptional vocal talent.

Perfect for both newcomers and opera lovers alike, A Night at the Opera is not to be missed!

This performance takes place at the Concert Room, Durham University Music Department, Palace Green, Durham, DH1 3RL

£10 Standard

£8 Concessions

£7 Durham Student Theatre Members

This performance will begin at 7.30pm and last 60 minutes. Doors will open 15 minutes before start time.

FHTC is excited to announce ‘Myths and Legends: The Intercollegiate Showcase’!

The intercollegiate showcase is back for its second year, raising money for Children of the North East. This year with the enchanting theme of myths and legends, each college theatre company displays its niche while celebrating a shared love of theatre. From Camelot to Hadestown, this showcase has it all, perfect for everyone.

The showcase celebrates college theatre and creates an accessible opportunity for performers and crew members to work in the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre.

£5 Standard

£4.50 Concession

£4.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 N Bailey, DH1 3ET.

Doors will open at 7pm for a performance start time of 7.30pm. The show will last approximately 2 hours, with a 15 minute interval.

DUCT's Classical Acting Showcase is back for 2024!

Come along to see some of Durham's hottest classical acting talent take on a variety of classical monologues and duologues in a lighthearted competition for one night only!

Warnings: Death / Suicide

£7.50 Standard

£7 Concession

£6.50 Durham Student Theatre

This event is taking place at the Birley Room, Hatfield, North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3RQ.

The perofrmance will start at 7:30pm and last until approximately 9:30pm. Doors will open half an hour before performances begin.

This adaptation of 1984 reimagines Winston Smith's reconstruction, where he is forced to re-enact key moments of his life and his 'thoughtcrimes' with the help of others convicted.

The show reimagines sex and romantic relationships through a dystopian lens, using the relationship between Julia and Winston as its focal point (especially in act one). The script uses a lot of Orwell's original dialogue and so in many ways remains true to the novel, whilst incorporating this new metatheatrical twist.

£7 Standard    

£6 Concession

£5.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre

Doors will open at 7pm, the Performance will start at 7.30pm and will last about 130 minutes, including a 15-minute interval

Sondheim's cult classic 'Merrily We Roll Along' traces the life of wealthy, jaded composer Franklin Shepard and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their lives – in reverse!

Woodplayers are delighted to present our Michaelmas musical, ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ by the legendary Stephen Sondheim.

'Merrily We Roll Along' begins in 1976 and moves backwards, tracing the rise to stardom of successful yet cynical composer Franklin Shepard, alongside his two estranged friends. The musical follows each milestone of their personal and professional lives in reverse, ending with a touch of rueful irony, as the friends at the start of their careers face a bright future: young, talented and enthusiastic about the world waiting to be conquered. A revered musical classic, this production is not to be missed...

Content Warnings: Alcoholism / violence

£8 Standard

£7 Concession

£6.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This production takes place at the Mark Hillery Arts Centre, Collingwood College, Durham DH1 3LT.

Performances begin at 7:30pm (2.30pm for the matinee), and the doors will open 30 minutes before the performance. The show will last 150 minutes including a 15 minute interval.

Walkabout Productions return with an innovative immersive take on a beloved Dickens Classic, beating their own record for the UK’s largest work of immersive student theatre.

On a chilly winter’s day, you come to an auction of historical artefacts, including an original copy of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. This is no ordinary copy of the novel; it is filled with imagination, memories and a rather spritely spirit. Suddenly you’re sucked into the carol, and witness the hauntings and festivities, shocks and merriment, singing and dancing, tears and laughter, people and ghosts that make this tale one of the greatest ever told. Like Scrooge, you must decide how this tale will impact your decisions about the past, present and future..

 

£8 Standard    

£7 Concession

£6.50 Student

This event takes place at Dunelm House.

Doors will open at 7pm, the Performance will start at 7.30pm last approximately 135 minutes, including a 15-minute interval

The concert will take you on a tour celebrating European national identity. From the tone poems of Sibelius’ Finlandia and Smetana’s Vltava, to the Russian folklore of Borodin’s Symphony No. 2.

Our Michaelmas concert will take you on a tour of Europe with a programme of music celebrating national identity. Sibelius’ Finlandia and Smetana’s Vltava are tone poems which evoke vast and majestic landscapes as symbols of national pride. We will also play Holmes’ Irlande, another symphonic poem which calls for political freedom. Our concert will conclude with Borodin’s Second Symphony, generally regarded as his best work and a foundation stone of the Russian symphonic sound as it weaves elements of Russian folklore with Western Romanticism.

£14 Standard

£12 Concession

£10 Durham Student Music Members

This production takes place at Elvet Methodist Church, 8 Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HL.

This concert will begin at 7.30pm and last until 9.10pm, with a 20 minute interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the performance.

A musical about the most infamous bank robbing & murdering duo in American history - romance, crime, and an incredible soundtrack.

Featuring one of the most infamous romances in American history, Bonnie and Clyde tells a story of passion and ambition driving a couple to crime and their untimely end. The musical takes on a cyclical structure, opening with Bonnie and Clyde’s deaths, before flashing back to their lives up until that point. As the story unfolds, audiences follow their misguided ambitions. Bonnie’s desire for stardom mixes dangerously with Clyde’s desire for infamy, becoming a destructive journey that affects both the couple and those around them. With a score that blends rockabilly, blues, and gospel, the musical captures their story eloquently, depicting the corruption of the American Dream.

£8.50 Standard    

£7.50 Concession

£6.50 DST Members

This event takes place at Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre.

Doors will open at 7pm, the Performance will start at 7.30pm and will last approximately 140 minutes, including a 15-minute interval

Highlighting music that normally accompany a stage performance. This includes Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (a tragic love story) and Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty depicting the lilac fairy and puss-in-boots.

Our Michaelmas concert will be highlighting music that normally accompanies various stage performances. This will include the opera Tristan und Isolde by Wagner, with a concert arrangement of the famous Prelude and ‘Liebestod’ (Love Death) acting as a condensed portrayal of the tragic love story. The concert also contains Sibelius’s incidental music for the play Pelleas et Melisande, telling the tale in nine movements ending with the heart-aching ‘Death of Melisande’. Finally, the concert features the suite of music from Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty with music depicting the lilac fairy, puss-in-boots and the white cat, as well as the famous ‘Rose’ Adagio and Waltz.

£14 Standard

£10 Concession

£8 Durham Student Music Members

This performance takes place at St Oswald's Church, Church St, Durham DH1 3DQ.

This production will begin at 7:30pm and last until approximately 9.10pm. Doors will open 30 minutes before the show starts.

Join Durham University Big Band and Durham University Jazz Orchestra for their yearly Jazzy Christmas charity gig at the Assembly Rooms Theatre for an evening of festive classics, blazing solos and Christmas cheer!

Jazzy Christmas is the Durham University Jazz Ensembles’ yearly charity Christmas gig, and one of the most popular in the calendar. Join DUJO and DUBB at the Assembly Rooms Theatre for a night of Christmas classics, with a set from each band. The proceedings for the evening will be donated to our charity partner for the year.

£7 Standard

£6 Concession

£5 Durham Student Music Members

This production takes place at Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 N Bailey, DH1 3ET.

The performance begins at 7.30pm and will finish at approximately 9.30pm, including a 20 minute interval. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance.

Laugh yourself a merry little Christmas,

Watch an improv show,

We will keep you laughing 'til you're all aglow!

Shellshock! Improvised Comedy, Durham's premier improv comedy group, present their signature blend of scenes and sketches. The show is entirely unscripted and made up on the spot - no two shows are ever the same. Come along for an evening of laughter as you give prompts and suggestions to help shape every scene!

Warnings: As the show is improvised, we can't predict the content exactly. However, we always strive to avoid heavy topics and keep our shows light. There will be audience participation and possibly some strong language.

£5 Standard

£3.50 Concession

£3.50 Durham Student Theatre

This performance will take place at Durham Students' Union, Dunelm House, New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3AN.

This performance will begin at 7:30pm and last until approximately 8:45pm. Doors will open 15 minutes before the start of the performance.

All I want for Christmas… is some festive a cappella! Presenting a diverse selection of a cappella, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

Foot Notes A Capella return from a 5* Edinburgh Fringe run, complete with a new generation of Foot Notes to deliver a night of festive classics, contemporary chart-toppers and choral masterpieces, including hits by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the lyrical melodies of Eleanor Daley, and much more! Situated in the gorgeous St Oswald’s Church, the evening promises to put you in the mood for Christmas, so join us on the 10th December for a night you won’t forget!

£8 Standard

£6 Concession

£5 Durham Student Music

This performance will take place in St Oswald's Church, Church St, Durham, DH1 3DQ.

This performance begins at 8:00pm and will last approximately an hour and twenty minutes including a 15 minute interval. Doors will open half an hour before the start of the performance.

Christopher Marlowe’s seminal ‘Doctor Faustus’ sees ambition meet the supernatural in a gripping tale of power, temptation, and tragedy.

DUCT presents a fresh and innovative take on the classic story of a brilliant scholar who, in his thirst for limitless power and knowledge, strikes a deal with the devil, selling his soul for 24 years of magical prowess.

However, as Faustus indulges in his newfound abilities, he spirals deeper into despair, ultimately facing the dire consequences of his choice…

Content Warnings: Death / Suicide / Misogyny

£7.50 Standard

£7 Concession

£6.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre.

The doors will open at 7 PM.

The performance will begin at 7:30PM and will last approximately 140 minutes, including a 15 minute interval.