It’s Not Cluedo!

Chris Neville-Smith in association with the Rotunda Theatre

There’s been a murder! And we have one hour to solve it! Choose your own six suspects, six weapons and nine locations. The comedy game show with a panel of Fringe performers comes to Durham. Comedy nominee, 2024 Scarborough Fringe.

Jimmy and John’s Sharing Platter

Johnson and Pease Productions

Working on the sound principle that two is almost always better than one, Jimmy and John, aka Johnson and Pease, bring you half an hour each of their choicest cuts.

Darlings of York’s burgeoning comedy scene, these two erudite manchildren will delight and amuse with a combination of –

• words
• facial expressions
• judicious silences
• 3D effects
• Circus animals
• Lies

Their only guarantee – you won’t leave the same as you came in…

The Durham Improv Jam

Bed Bradley

The Durham Improv Jam is your chance to come and play some improv games, or watch other performers take to the stage, in a relaxed and unscripted interactive show. Join us for an hour jam-packed full of laughs!

Helen Cooper’s Lost Numbers

Helen Cooper Trio

Helen Cooper runs the Elm Tree Acoustic Sessions – and that’s great, except she always needs to play up-beat numbers as she’s usually beginning each performance section. Hence her appearance at the free-fringe in her one-woman-plus-band showcase of familiar and forgotten light and comedy jazz numbers. She’s hoping to take you on a sentimental journey which will make you sing and smile – with maybe just one or two little tears…

Liam Overend: Do poets get encores?

@JustLiamPoetry

If you haven’t done so already, forget the poems they taught you at school; you’ll find none of that here. Instead, let Liam share with you his heart-warming anecdotes and poetry inspired by real life events (mainly his), from changing nappies, fighting with a cactus, being terrorised by peacocks and a brief bout of Bell’s Palsy.

Erasmus Croc’s and Aaron Wright’s Guide To Life

Aaron Wright

Erasmus Croc is the world’s first poetry crocodile, performing alongside his young protégé, Aaron Wright. Together they present their guide to life, the universe and everything through spoken word, poetry, low-tech props and bubbles. Expect tales of possessed tumble dryers, blinged-up slugs and other surreal wonders. Soak in sumptuous visuals and audacious auditory skills as a crocodilian delivers rhythm and rhyme, aided and abetted by his star pupil.

A playful, poetic, and joyfully strange Fringe experience.

Tom Priestley performance poet

Tom Priestley

Comedic poetry aimed at celebrating and criticising the poetry scene. Filled with observations of mundane every day life whilst satirising social habits. Think John Cooper Clarke meets George Carlin

Mwelwa Chilekwa: ReSIStance

Mwelwa Chilekwa

Women are the villains and society is the judge, jury and executioner. Our heads lay bare on the guillotine and with one false move…

But this show changes our story and empowers others. A passionate and emotive one-woman show featuring poetry to SMASH the patriarchy. From light-hearted topics like school life and dating to the more darker aspects: abuse and sexual assault. Trigger warning for those topics, this is how the world is. Experiences far too many women and girls, myself included, face. Why?

Together, no matter your gender, we are going to put the sis in resistance! 

The Notorious PIP: Domesticon. An Antifragile Poetry Play

Pip McDonald

an experimental solo spoken word & comedy performance unpacking lived (and dead) experience of domesticity, consumerism, grief, mothers (mams), relationships, supermarkets, education, and health through performative poetic outputs. Trigger warnings: grief, death and Tesco. 

The Quay Notes

The Quay Notes

The Quay Notes – a local trio – female singer, keyboard player and guitarist, playing popular cover songs, both old and new.

Dan Lyons: old time country music

Dan Lyons

An event of traditional-style Country music. He’ll be performing a mixture of original songs and Country classics by artists such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. His style is primarily Folk Country and Country Blues.

Lef’ Debris

Lef’ Debris

Lef Debris is a dynamic and powerful punk band that combines the elements of spoken word, electronic beats, and raw energy to deliver thought-provoking social commentary with a splash of dark humour. With both male and female members, the band’s diverse voices and perspectives add depth and complexity to their performances.

Adam Kelly

Adam Kelly

Adam Kelly and Chris Little, hosts of the Holy GrAle popular Open Mic night, will be debuting an unreleased album for their performance with live music. Three tracks will be pre-released, and rest will be debuted live.