Now in its fourth year, The Durham Fringe Festival brings fringe theatre to scenic Durham in the North East of England.
Running from July 24th to 28th, it has steadily earned a reputation as a solid festival with some great shows. It’s also a handy stop on many a shows’ journey to Edinburgh, as actors and the like get to grips with new shows, as well as a place for touring shows to do their thing. Let’s take a look at a handful of shows that might appeal to STARBURST readers.
The Green Knight
The Green Knight is a classic Arthurian tale in which a monstrous warrior seeks to destroy the incredibly strong Sir Gawain. This version is told from the perspective of Gawain’s young wife and is a one-woman show performed by the critically acclaimed Debbie Cannon. With direction from Flavia D’Avila and additional dramaturgy from Jen McGregor, this is one to catch, especially if you missed it at 2022’s Edinburgh Fringe.
HELLCATS
Subtitled ‘Spiteful Hateful Women’ and produced by Menstrual Rage Theatre, HELLCATs is a raw look at the 17th-century English Witch Trials. With crops failing in the fields and people getting very sick, someone has to be to blame, and anyone could be a witch. Described as lively, loud and fiercely chaotic, this show explores how rumours and fear can damage a community. You can also find the production’s crowd-funder here.
As You Like It AD793
Shakespeare, but with Vikings! A modern verse take on Shakespeare’s As You Like It, set in AD793 as a group of Anglo-Saxons hide in the Arden forest. Expect the usual comedic romantic fun with some surprise twists.
Fragments of Poe
As STARBURST readers know, Edgar Allan Poe is the grandfather of modern Gothic horror. Fragments of Poe combines dance, music, and Aubrey Beardsley’s aesthetic style with film and projection to create a unique exploration of Poe’s work. A trailer of the show can be found here.
Nerd is the Word
Neil Harris blends his comic timing with his computer programming skills to create a stand-up routine that is incredibly nerdy. This is a fun and delightful exploration of what makes video games work, and at the same time, is pretty funny.
Full booking information (as well as venue information) can be found on the Durham Fringe Festival website.
