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Durham Fringe Festival Picks 2023

Written By:

Ed Fortune
Durham Fringe 2024

by Ed Fortune

Only in its third year, The Durham Fringe Festival is a newcomer to the International Fringe scene. 

Running from July 26th to 30th, it’s a small but fierce festival. Based in the North East of England, it has rapidly become a very welcome addition to fringe theatre across the UK. It’s also a handy stop on many a show’s journey to Edinburgh. Let’s take a look at a handful of shows that might appeal to STARBURST readers.

 

 Frankenstein The City Theatre: 27th & 29th July 8.15pm

 Twitter: @NTCtheatre More: NTC Touring Theatre Company

The NTC Touring Theatre Company presents Frankenstein, an adaptation of the classic science-fiction novel by Mary Shelley. Using the 1818 novel as a guide, this version of the story tries to stick as close as it can to Shelley’s classic work, creating something very different to the Frankenstein you may be familiar with from film and TV.

Buckets Of Blood – Fairy Tales Not For Kids Cafédral: July 27th 8.10pm

Twitter: @StoriesAlive More: storiesalive.co.uk

Join storyteller Eden Ballantyne as we dive into the darker side of fairy tales. What was Red Riding Hood running from? What was in Cinderella’s slipper? What isn’t Disney telling you? This promises to be a Grimm and grimmer retelling of some classic stories. 

 

 Watson: The Final Problem The Assembly Rooms Theatre : 26th & 27th July, check for times. 

 Twitter: @timmarriott_ More: smokescreenprods.com

John Watson is alone; Mary is long gone, Sherlock is nowhere to be found. It is 1894, and London still seethes with crime, false reports and rumours. Tim Marriott’s performance as Watson has been described as ‘mesmerising’. This is a must for fans of the Sherlock mythos.

 This show will also be at the Edinburgh Fringe.

 

There’s a Monkion in Your Attic Klute : 29th & 30th July 6:00pm

Twitter: @HookyProductio1 More:  linktr.ee/hookyproductions

The portal has opened! The Monkions are here, and they are in every attic. Bizarre creatures from another dimension are coming, and they’re coming to make you laugh. Surreal and unique performance-based comedy.

This show will also be at the Edinburgh Fringe.

 

The Rotting Hart The City Theatre: 28th & 29th 5:45pm

Twitter: @CrestedFools More: linktr.ee/crestedfools

Queer horror inspired by the history of homophobia in Spain. A captivating look into hate and the monster that lurks in the heart of us all, with more than a touch of eerie horror for good measure.

 This show will also be at the Edinburgh Fringe.

 

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