Industry News

Between 23rd and 27th July 2025, Durham Fringe Festival will host a spectacular array of performing arts across nine Durham City Centre venues. Audiences will be invited to explore over 110 unique acts across a programme of 270+ performances. Genres include theatre, music, stand-up comedy, comedy theatre, magic, spoken word, cabaret, dance, physical theatre, circus, and children and youth shows.

Durham Fringe 2025 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 also be surrounded by food and drinks traders for the duration of the festival.

2025 is Durham Fringe Festival’s fifth year, a milestone which sees the event host performers from County Durham, across the UK, and indeed the world. From Hamsterley to Hawaii! This year’s acts include Tom Bolton, a Durham-based magician, fan-favourite and 2024 Durham Fringe sell out. Also on the lineup is 18 year old singer-songwriter Isabel Maria, last year’s winner of the North East Culture Award and BBC Introducing’s ‘One to Watch for 2025’.

Stand-up comedy fans are well and truly catered for, with 19 acts across the five days of the festival. Discover emerging talent such as BBC New Comedy Award Finalist Jake Donaldson, and Phil Green who joins the Durham lineup following back-to-back sell out runs at Edinburgh Fringe. Cal Halbert, one half of “The Mimic Men” (as seen on Britain’s Got Talent, Good Morning Britain and The Gadget Show) also joins the bill with a five-day run.

It doesn’t stop there for fans of funny. You’ll also find plenty of comedy theatre including the legendary Durham Revue, the group that brought you Ed Gamble, Stevie Martin, Nish Kumar and many more notable UK comics.

Those interested in theatre can choose from 26 unique productions, including adaptations of classics and original works. Shakespeare's 'Taming Of The Shrew’ will hit the Palace Green stage in a modern-verse translation, and The City Theatre will host an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, ‘The Bodysnatcher’. Those wanting to discover the next original stage sensation will also be spoilt for choice – 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’ to name just a few titles.

There are 42 acts which are suitable for families with young children, and 14 shows specifically in the children and youth genre. What’s more, family tickets are available for just £24. Family groups can be made up of two adults and two under 16s, or one adult and three under 16s.

All tickets cost just £10 (£7 concession) or less. A true Fringe experience is all about trying something new, so Durham Fringe’s ‘discover offer’ means you can book any three shows for just £24 – that’s just £8 per show. This offer is automatically applied when three shows are added to the basket during booking.

Visit the Durham Fringe website to see the full lineup and book tickets. Browse shows by date,
genre and venue: durhamfringe.co.uk/events Dr Stephen Cronin, Durham Fringe CIC Director and festival founder states: “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.”