Helping Performing Arts Festival To Grow Will Be “Just The Ticket”

A £500 gift from the city’s freemen will in particular help the Durham Fringe Festival reach a wider audience for this year’s five-day event by targeting specific wards within the city facing socio-economic challenges - including limited home internet access - with additional printed promotional material.Festival director, Stephen Cronin, said: “Statistically the northeast has the smallest arts and culture sector in Britain and the festival seeks to provide a platform for artists, performers, and creatives to develop and test work, supporting career progression.

“Over the past three years we have seen an appetite and demand from audiences for a fringe festival in Durham City. It is proving to be a powerful tool in bringing people into the city at a time when it needs a boost the most – when the students go home for the summer. We’re really grateful to the freemen’s charitable trust for supporting us to further grow and diversify our audience at this stage of the festival’s development.”

The event, which features shows from genres across the performing arts, including dance, music, theatre, magic, stand-up, cabaret and children’s shows, was launched in 2021 by local residents, intent on helping recovery from the economic and social effects of the pandemic. This year the team is encouraging more submissions of dance and movement-based performances.

The festival has been supported by a team of over 80 volunteers, whose ages range from 11 to over 80. The call for volunteers for this year’s festival will be launched shortly and organisers invite people wanting to join and help to check their web site for details.

This year’s shows will be presented over eight performance spaces across seven venues. New venues include Durham |Distillery and Dunelm House, adding to the core cohort of the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms, Cafedral, Durham City Theatre and Fabios. Audiences can also enjoy performances with the iconic backdrop of Durham Cathedral, in the festival marquee on Palace Green.

Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s charitable trustees said: “We are delighted to support the Durham Fringe Festival, particularly in widening its reach to target those in our community who face challenges during these difficult economic and social times. We wish them every success with their event in July.”

All images by Geoff Kitson Photography - https://geoffkitsonphotography.co.uk/