Travelling salesman, Willy Loman, has spent his life in pursuit of the American Dream. Dissatisfied and disillusioned by life, Willy loses his grip on reality – haunted by memories and failed aspirations.

'Death of a Salesman' follows Willy Loman, an aging traveling salesman whose lifelong pursuit of the American Dream collapses under the weight of reality. Haunted by memories past, and failed aspirations, Willy clings to illusions of grandeur - at the expense of his declining career and family, particularly sons Biff and Happy, who struggle with their father's expectations. Biff’s failure to meet Willy’s dreams triggers Willy’s deeper retreat into memories and fantasies. Arthur Miller’s 20th century masterpiece exposes the tragic cost of delusion in a society which advertises false hope in exchange for compliance.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£7 Performing Arts Members

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

The performance will begin at 7.30pm and last for approximately 3 hours with interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance begins.

Inspired by the iconic Stephen King novel and its 1976 film adaptation, CARRIE: THE MUSICAL tells the tale of awkward teenager Carrie White navigating the difficulties of high school and her relationship with her religiously fanatic mother. When Carrie is humiliated at prom, she unleashes her telekinetic powers in vengeance that will throw her life into chaos.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£8 Performing Arts Members

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

The performances begin at 7.30pm and last for 2 hours with an interval. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance begins.

Join us for an evening with Durham’s finest acts; with laughter and entertainment abound, come and celebrate the Opening Night of Durham Drama Festival!

With Durham Drama Festival consisting of 9 different student-written shows taking place across the week, DDF Opening Night marks the beginning of Durham Student Theatre’s ode to its student writers and creatives.

Now in its 51st year, our line-up will include performances from The Durham Revue, The Stand Society, and Shellshock! Improv, as well as our fantastically funny compères. Be sure not to miss out on a night full of vibrant hilarity and music!

May contain strong language.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£7 Durham Student Theatre Members

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

This performance will begin at 7:30pm and will last approximately 150 minutes, with a short interval.

Durham Drama Festival is back for 2026 with a week-long celebration of the best new plays and musicals from across the University scene.

In the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, we are welcoming three new productions:

19 Hour Dog Fight

'19 Hour Dog Fight' covers one day: open to close at an all day, all night pool and snooker bar, bartended by Felicity, and containing four regulars; Jerome, Silas, Harry, and Liam. The story revolves around Harry and Liam's psycho-sexual relationship, and works into themes of masculinity, mortality, purpose, and ego as they explore themselves and each other, leading to confrontations with Jerome and Silas (the older regulars), manic-depressive breakdowns, love, frenzy and tragedy as the sun rises.

The Dangers of Being Earnest

The Ainsely Theatre company is an amateur university theatre company, whose two directors - Frankie and Karly, have elected to put on the importance of being Earnest. Unfortunately, with miscommunications, feuds and a general lack of organization, their production goes from amateur to awful.

To Capture the Wildlife  - MUSICAL  

A boy grieving the loss of his mother meets an unusual girl each week in a graveyard. Navigating the pains of life and death, they find comfort in one another, but can their strange, transient friendship survive this tumultuous time?

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£8 Performing Arts Members

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

The performances will last approximately 3 hours total (approx 50 minutes per play, with an interval after each performance).

'I am fine, thank you.' - Documentary Screening and Post-Screening Q&A (moderated by Professor Geetanjali Gangoli)

This documentary originated from the ‘We Are Hongkongers’ research project, funded by the British Academy/Wolfson Fellowship. Eleven Hongkongers, having moved to the UK since December 2019, participated in sharing their experiences and feelings in multiple filmed visits. The documentary features selected stories from these participants.

This documentary presents stories of Hongkonger migrants in the UK, each navigating their own path and defining what it means to live ‘right’ in a new land.

After parting from Hong Kong for some years and settling in a country where the language, culture and climate are vastly different from home, how would Hongkongers remember their home islands? What are the fragments of memory that they still carry?

This documentary originated from the ‘We Are Hongkongers’ research project, funded by the British Academy/Wolfson Fellowship. Eleven Hongkongers, having moved to the UK since December 2019, participated in sharing their experiences and feelings in multiple filmed visits. The documentary features selected stories from these participants.

Content warnings:  Police brutality. Strong language.

This screening is free to enter. Please book your free ticket to ensure your seat.

The screening will last 85 minutes. The doors will open 30 minutes before the show begins.

DOE is proud to present Will Todd's musical reimagining of the classic story 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', an opera for new and old fans alike.

11-year-old Alice is jolted out of her mundane daydreams during the school holidays when she encounters a talking rabbit who insists that she follow him to the mysterious Wonderland. In this fantastical place, Alice meets a host of peculiar characters who foster a sense of wonder and curiosity. However, she soon learns that all is not well in Wonderland; a mysterious and very cross Queen of Hearts seems distressingly eager to chop off everyone’s heads.  

£12.50 Standard

£9 Concession

£7 Performing Arts Members

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

The performances begin at 7pm or 2pm and run for approximately 110 minutes with interval. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance begins.

Come From Away is a heartwarming musical celebrating human kindness, set in Gander, Newfoundland, where locals welcomed stranded passengers after 9/11. With humor, compassion, and vibrant storytelling, it highlights resilience, community, and unexpected friendships forged during extraordinary circumstances

Come From Away tells the true story of 38 planes and almost 7,000 passengers from around the world that were diverted to the small community of Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001, doubling its population in an instant. While the world witnessed the worst acts of humankind, these stranded passengers had their faith in humanity restored by the Canadians who, for five days, comforted those who had come from away. On September 11, 2001, the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£7 Performing Arts Members

This production will take place in the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3ET.

The performance will begin at 7.30pm and run for approximately two hours with a short interval.

Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance is due to begin.

Following last year’s roaring success in the Gala Theatre, TV’s silliest iconic game show is returning to Durham! With laughs guaranteed and all proceeds going to charity, this is one hectic night you do not want to miss!

Taskmaster Durham’ is a student version of the hit TV show, adapted to the stage in Durham for the third-year running. This show involves Durham students taking on a series of ridiculous tasks, under the watchful eye of the Taskmaster’s Assistant (Michael Nevin), for ultimate judgement by the Taskmaster (Ollie Cochran). As in the TV version, much of the evening will be improvised, with the live reactions to the tasks and the Taskmaster’s judgment both unscripted and entirely changeable. The performances will follow the structure of an episode of the show - prize task; a combination of live and pre-recorded tasks both individually and in groups; final live task of the night. 

Tickets £10 / £9 / £8

Or, get tickets to both showings at a reduced rate for a limited time only!

Bundles £16.50 / £13 / £12

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

Julius Caesar, one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, navigates conspiracy, tyranny and morality - and the death and violence that follows it.

DUCT presents Shakespeare's infamous tragedy, 'Julius Caesar.' After Caesar's victorious return from war, his growing ambition begins to invoke fear and suspicion from those around him. Conspiracy grows, and as the shadows grow longer, alliances, betrayals and death flicker in the moonlight.

Presented against the backdrop of 1970's outlaw culture, 'Julius Caesar' questions morality, honour and the cost of violence - raising an important question: Who can you really trust?

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£8 Performing Arts Members

This performance is taking place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theate, 40 N Bailey, DH1 3ET.

This performance will begin at 7.30pm (2.30pm also on Saturday), and last for approximately 135 mins with interval. Doors open 30 minutes before the show begins.

A dazzling journey of classic musical theatre numbers within the themes of light and shadow. With mysterious, moody pieces, and bright, hopeful harmonies: this cabaret takes a worthy spotlight.

DULOG’s ‘Dusk to Dawn’: A Cabaret takes you on a dazzling journey of classic musical theatre numbers within the themes of light and shadow. With mysterious, moody pieces, and bright, hopeful harmonies: this cabaret takes a worthy spotlight. Featuring a diverse range of well-known songs from Disney to Golden Age classics, DULOG's annual cabaret offers performers the opportunity to shine on the Assembly Rooms stage.

£7 Standard

£6 Concession

£5.50 Performing Arts Members

This event takes place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 N Bailey, Durham, DH1 1JQ.

The show will begin at 7.30pm and last approximatey two and a half hours with interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the show begins.

On the streets of Paris, a tale of love, conflict, and acceptance. With a soaring score, choir and band, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is brought to life in concert.

Follow Quasimodo the hopeful bellringer of Notre Dame as he ventures from his tower and falls for the beautiful Romani Dancer Esmerelda. Unbeknown to Quasimodo his guardian Frollo is also taken by Esmerelda leading to a tragic conflict. A tale of love, goodness, prejudice, and power, we watch Quasimodo and the Romani dream of finding a home within a society who shuns them. A story made even more beautiful and heartbreaking through its enchanting score and brought to life with an ethereal band and choir.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£8 Performing Arts Members

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

The performances begin at 7.30pm and last for approximately 3 hours with interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the showw is due to begin.

Shakespeare’s Othello is a timeless tale of betrayal, deceit and revenge. When overlooked for a promotion, Iago begins to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of his general, Othello, with tragic consequences.

Roots Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s haunting tragedy, Othello, set in a timeless world of flowers, feathers, and fractured power.

Following General Othello who is deceived by a resentful ensign, Iago, into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful with a lieutenant, Cassio. Driven by Iago's deceit and the loss of his sentimental handkerchief, Othello’s overwhelming jealousy leads him to destruction. As Othello’s ‘outsider status’ becomes an increasing pressure point, the delicate ecosystem of his marriage is shattered. Othello’s unravelling becomes an echo of ecological collapse: a desperate, violent grasp for control which destroyed the very last thing that sustains him.

This poignant production invites audiences to decode its floral language and witness this antiquated, yet urgently modern tragedy.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£7 Performing Arts Members

This event takes place at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre, 40 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 1JQ.

The performance will begin at 7.30pm and last approximately 155 minutes with a short interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance begins.

Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, Be More chill is a comedy musical that focuses in on high school life tackling questions of identity and self.

Ooook productions! Are excited to present Be More chill! Jeremy is a loser. The only person who talks to him is his best friend, Michael. But with the help of a supercomputer, known as the SQUIP, implanted in his brain his popularity starts to rise, and he might finally have the opportunity to go on a date with his crush Christine! However, popularity might not be as great as he imagined and the SQUIP not the friend he thought it was.

£10 Standard

£9 Concession

£7 Performing Arts Members

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

Performances begin at 7.30pm and last approximately two and a half hours. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance starts.