Castle Theatre Company is delighted to announce its production of Twelfth Night. When a ship is wrecked on the rocks, a tale of mistaken identities, love triangles, and humorous deceptions ensues.

Castle Theatre Company is one of the oldest performing arts groups at Durham University, and for over four decades have taken an annual summer Shakespeare tour around the south of England and the USA, performing classic comedies on the lawns of stately homes, gardens, and abbeys. 2024’s touring production of 'As You Like It' was performed to sold-out audiences around the south of England.

After the shipwreck, Viola is separated from her twin brother, Sebastian. Disguised as a man, named Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino, who already loves Lady Olivia. However, Olivia falls for Cesario, unaware that she is Viola, while Viola secretly loves Orsino. Meanwhile, Sebastian, who survived the shipwreck, arrives, leading to Olivia marrying him, thinking he is Cesario. As the confusion unravels, Viola's identity is revealed, and Orsino realizes his love for her  .  

£7 Standard

£6.50 Concession

£6 Durham Student Theatre Members

£5.50 University College JCR Members

This performance will take place in the Master’s Garden at Durham Castle, DH1 3RW.

The performances will begin at 2.30pm and last until 5pm with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the show.

‘Let’s do the Time Warp again’ as DULOG presents the ultra-camp cult classic sci-fi satire and celebration of self-expression: The Rocky Horror Show!

'Fifty years since it first hit stage and screen, The Rocky Horror Show follows all-American high-school sweethearts Brad and Janet on their journey into the mysterious, madcap castle of the fiendishly fabulous Dr Frank-N-Furter: a mad scientist with a plan to make the perfect man! Featuring an unforgettable cast of characters, set to an iconic rock’n’roll score and with plenty of surprises in store, DULOG invites you to ‘give yourself over to absolute pleasure’ for ninety minutes of gender- and genre-bending entertainment!

Content warnings: Sexual content and themes / Profanity and crude humour / Violence / Drug use / Audience participation / Flashing lights

£8.50 Standard

£7.50 Concessions

£7 Durham Student Theatre Members

This performance is taking place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3ET.

The performances begin at 5.30pm, 7.30pm or 9pm and last about 105 minutes with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the performances. Check individual dates below for further information.

Join Durham University Chamber Choir for Under the Greenwood Tree, a lyrical journey through British poetry and music, exploring Shakespeare, love, memory, and the natural world.

With almost every piece rooted in British poetry or composition, this concert celebrates British artists and the enduring influence of Shakespeare. The program weaves together choral settings from Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Sonnet 18, alongside works by Elgar, Finzi, Mealor, and Rebecca Dale.

Exploring themes of love and memory, the concert moves from the mournful strains of Drop, Drop, Slow Tears to the nostalgic beauty of Only in Sleep.

The imagery of the rose intertwines throughout, from the tender simplicity of A Spotless Rose to the dark warning of The Sick Rose, where love is tainted by selfishness. Pickard’s Three Latin Motets provide a moment of contemplation, while Set Me as a Seal and Deep in My Soul reflect on love’s enduring presence.

£10 Standard

£7 Concessions

£5 Durham Student Music Members

This concert takes place at Elvet Methodist Church, DH1 3HL.

The concert will begin at 7.30pm and last until approximately 9pm with a short inteval. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of the concert.

When John falls for a woman whilst on a break with his boyfriend, he must come to terms with who he really is, and what he wants from life.

Fourthwall presents Cock by Mike Bartlet!

John knows he’s a gay man, and dating M. He knows what his life is like, and what it has in store for him. But when he falls for a woman, he realises that he doesn’t really know himself at all. Faced with a long term partner on one side of his life, and an intriguing and strong woman on the other, John’s life begins to implode into a cockfight, with everyone demanding he tell them exactly who he is and what he wants. Surely that’ll be easy and pain-free for John…

…Right?

Content warning: Depictions of sex

£7 Standard

£6 Concessions

£5 Durham Student Theatre Members

This play will take place at the Head of Steam, 3 North Road, Durham, DH1 4RZ.

Performances will begin at 7.30pm, and run until 10pm. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start time.

Come celebrate a fantastic year of music-making with Foot Notes A Cappella's final concert of the year in Durham, showcasing Foot Notes favourites old and new!

With repertoire ranging from pop classics such as Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Landslide’, to folk tunes such as ‘Shenandoah’, alongside a more classical selection featuring Ivo Antognini’s ‘Lux Aeterna’ and John Taverner’s ‘Mother of God Here I Stand’; Foot Notes deliver an eclectic mix of a cappella with something for everyone. The set also showcases original compositions and arrangements by Foot Notes’s very own, Charlotte Dixon and Lulu McDonald. Located in the intimate setting of St Chad's Chapel, it promises to be a magical evening.

£5 Standard

£4 Concessions

£3 Durham Student Music Members

This event takes place at the Chapel of St Chad's College, 18 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3RH.

The event begins at 7.30pm and lasts approximately 1 hour. Doors open 30 minutes before the concert begins.

Wrong Tree's annual devised play takes to the City Theatre! Four Arthurian knights travel through the woods, encountering renowned magical threats. Chivalry, love, magic - what more could you want?

Percival, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Gawain, all famed members of the tales of King Arthur, are travelling together through the mystical woods in search of a magical cauldron. Along this journey, the four are forced to use their wits, bravery, and loyalty as they encounter threats and figures entrenched in mythical legend. WrongTree's annual devised production uses movement and magic to transport the audience to a time of myth and magic.

£6.50 Standard

£6 Concession

£5.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at the City Theatre, Back Silver Street 6, Durham, DH1 3RA.

The play will begin at 7.30pm and last until approximately 8.45pm straight through. Doors will open approximately 30 minutes before the show begins.

In 1988, a Tory politician Robin Hesketh returns to his Cotswold home with his left-wing wife. What begins as light teasing soon escalates into a brutal conflict, shattering the calm of their 30-year marriage.

Hansard is an intimate drama about a troubled marriage set against the backdrop of Section 28, which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality. The play takes place in the Cotswolds, where Tory cabinet member Robin Hesketh and his disillusioned, left-wing wife Diana live. After Robin returns from a TV debate, Diana confronts him over his political views, criticising the Tories' stance on homosexuality. What starts as light teasing quickly turns into a brutal conflict, exploring the emotional disconnect between the characters and the clash of political ideologies.

Content Warnings: Suicide / homophobia

£7 Standard

£6.50 Concession

£6 Durham Student Theatre Members

This performance is taking place at the Mark Hillery Arts Centre, Collingwood College.

This performance will begin at 7.30pm and last until approximately 9pm. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the show.

Polloi Productions Introduces their Easter double bill- The Bacchae and The Birds! Two Greek plays come to the modern stage, a tragedy of Euripides and a comedy of Aristophanes.

The Bacchae follows the city of Thebes as their leader Pentheus resists the allure of the new religious cult of Dionysus. Disguising himself as a follower, the god slowly converts the house of Cadmus to his cult. Riddled with family rivalries and mysterious rites, the Bacchae just might make you lose your head.  

The Birds follows two fed up Athenians who wish to found their own city away from all the messy politics of Athens. They seek out the human-turned-bird king Tereus, and decide to create their own utopia in the sky called CloudCuckooLand. Hilarity ensues as they battle with gods and mortals alike to get their city up and running.

£6.50 Standard

£5.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at the Percival Annex, Tom Percival Annex, Brooks House, St Cuthbert's Society, Parson's Field, Durham DH1 3JP.

This event will begin at 7.30pm and last until approximately 9.30pm with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the show.

A hospital. A secret child. And a very important speech. What’s the worst that could happen?

Trevelyan College Musicals Society and Sixth Side Theatre Company proudly present 'It Runs in the Family', a play full of farcical fun and chaos, all rehearsed in 48 hours. Watch as Dr. Mortimore tries to fend off a paternity suit, an ex wife, a punkish son and various other lunatics so that he may, at last, deliver the Ponsonby Lecture in an international conference. Nothing ever goes smoothly in a Ray Cooney farce - and that's all part of the fun.

All tickets £5

This event will take place at Trevelyan College, Elvet Hill Rd, Durham DH1 3LN.

The shows will begin at 2pm and 7.30pm and last approximately 2 hours with an interval.

Join Durham University Brass Band for a celestial midsummer matinee as their final concert of the academic year.

Packed with a myriad of melodies from the '50s and '60s classics of 'Singing in the Rain' and 'A Ticket to Ride' to timeless brass band essentials, Sounds of the Solstice celebrates the close of a vibrant year of brass banding.

£8 Standard

£7 Concession

£6 Durham Student Music Members

This event takes place at St Godric's Church, Castle Chare, Durham, DH1 4RD.

The concert will begin at 2.30pm and last approximately 2 hours with an interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the show.

Join the Chapel Choirs of Durham University as they come together in Durham School Chapel for a summer evening of beautiful and uplifting choral music, raising money in support of local mental health charity RTMinds.

'The Chapel Choirs of Durham University, in collaboration with Durham Student Music, will be performing a programme of beautiful choral music on Saturday 21 June in the atmospheric acoustics of Durham School's Chapel.

The uplifting and celebratory programme will feature six of the University's Chapel Choirs, with each choir showcasing their unique blend of voices and characters with some of their most exciting repertoire from across the year. The evening will culminate with the massed choirs collaborating to perform timeless and beloved choral classics, including Hubert Parry's sensational "I Was Glad", bringing together 80 voices and filling the chapel with joyous harmony.

This concert is not one to miss, not least because of the fantastic cause it is for - the choirs are thrilled to be singing in support of RTMinds, a mental health charity based in Gilesgate which works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people in County Durham through engagement in creative activities.

Join us for this unmissable occasion to celebrate an excellent year of choral music-making.

£8 Standard

£5 Concession

£3 Durham Student Music Member

This event takes place at Durham School Chapel, Quarryheads Ln, Durham DH1 4SZ.

The event begins at 7.30pm and will last approximately 90 minutes with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the performance.

18 of Durham's finest musical theatre performers welcome you for an evening of them being Miscast in roles they wouldn't normally get to play.

Join over a dozen of Durham's finest performers for an evening of Miscast mayhem as they perform songs they would never get to otherwise. A dazzling showcase with numbers ranging from side-splitting solos, to dynamic duets, to energetic ensemble numbers, this is an evening of comedy and fun that you won't want to miss!

£6.50 Standard

£6 Concession

£5.50 Durham Student Theatre Members

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

This show will begin at 7.30pm and run for 110 minutes with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the show.

ShellShock! Improv Live! brings you barrels of laughs, inspired by your suggestions!

'ShellShock! Improv Live is a barrel of laughs packed into a variety of action-packed scenes. Each scene will be based entirely on your suggestions and made up on the spot! We aim to push our performers for your entertainment, whether they can speak only a word at a time or have to embody every piece of furniture in a single room at once. There are plenty of laughs waiting, whether you’d like to sit and giggle at the back or take part by giving us some smashing suggestions. Come and get to know us through ShellShock! Improv Live!

£5 Standard

£3.50 Concessions/Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at Dunelm House, New Elvet, Durham DH1 3AN.

The performance will begin at 7.30pm and last approximately 60 minutes. Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the show.

This year, Durham University Performing Arts invites you celebrate a day of Jazz! We have brought together some of the best jazz ensembles Durham has to offer, for our day-festival 'Jazz Fest'.

Join us for great jazz standards, contemporary big band performances, and funk hits! With performances from groups like Durham University's Big Band and Jazz Orchestra, Northern Lights A Cappella, The Holy GrAle Sessions and many more, soon to be announced. Jazz Fest is guaranteed to be the biggest jazz music event of the year!

All tickets £10 - This ticket will allow you to attend any performances throughout the event.

There will be a full programme of events throughout the day at the Durham Students Union, running from 1pm until late.

Durham Student Theatre Events is proud to present the BIGGEST event in the Student Theatre calendar... THE D'OSCARS 2025!

Come and join us at RAMSIDE HALL HOTEL, along with all of DST, for a night of awards, food, fun, and friends! This staple event in the DST calendar marks a celebration of all the theatre put on in the last academic year, and is the perfect finish to Epiphany term. Expect a 3 course meal, complimentary drink, awards, ENTS galore, and much much more! Don't miss out on this once-a-year experience and grab those tickets now...

£65 Standard

£60 Durham Student Theatre Members

This event takes place at Ramside Hall, Carrville, Durham DH1 1TD.

The event will begin at 5.30pm and last until midnight.

The Snow-Globe presents Bouncers (Remix) - an outrageous and hilarious parody of the disco scene, set site-specifically at John Snow's own Igloo bar!

Bursting with imagination and wit and presented by just four actors, the four brutish bouncers of the title portray over twenty different characters as we are invited for a night out on the town. We see them as giggly girls and lads on the make preparing for the big night out as we follow their progress to the disco floor.

There, we also meet an entire cross-section of disco-goers, including Hooray Henrys, pogoing punks and drunken slobs! The evening’s events are set against the tatty glitzy glamour, flashing lights and pulsating beat of the nightclub scene. An exhilarating night out for all concerned.

£5 Standard

£4 Concessions

The event takes place at The Igloo, The Approach, Mount Oswald, Durham DH1 3FR.

This event will begin at 7pm and last until approximately 9pm with a short interval. Doors open around 30 minutes before the production starts.

In the London Blitz of WW2, Alice’s life is turned upside down, and she and her friend Alfred are forced to shelter in a tube station bunker. When Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

 As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward.

The story shifts between the surreal world of Wonderland and the starkness of the bomb shelter. Familiar characters like the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and Queen of Hearts emerge as figments of Alice’s imagination, mirroring the people in the shelter and the emotions Alice wrestles with. Wonderland becomes a metaphorical realm where Alice can confront her fears, grief, and feelings of powerlessness. This world-premiere musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.

£10 Standard

£8 Concession

£7.50 Durham Student Music Members

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

The performances will begin at 7.30pm (or 2.30pm on the matinee), and last for approximately 105 minutes with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance begins.