A jam-packed programme of musicals, plays and variety shows at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre is now available to entertain audiences. Featuring everything from classic Broadway smash-hits, to sci-fi, and even a Mandarin-language comedy, this is an exciting opportunity to delve into the best of what Durham University’s student theatre community has to offer.
All performances are open to public and students alike. With famous alumni including Jeremy Vine, Nish Kumar, David Sproxton and Ambika Mod starting off in the Assembly Rooms in their University years, this is a unique chance to watch the stars of the future as they cut their teeth and develop their skills.
Ben Johanson, President of Durham Student Theatre says: “Prepare to be captivated by an exhilarating lineup of diverse shows. From a nostalgic TV reimagining, to a flamboyant musical classic, to a visceral exploration of history, there truly is a performance for all. Remarkable, enriching and affordable theatre, all student-led, is at our fingertips at the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms Theatre this coming term and we want to get the word out and attract new audiences to see our work.”
A highlight of the programme is Durham Light Opera Group (DULOG) who will perform ‘Legally Blonde’ from Wednesday 19 - Saturday 22 June, 7.30pm (with a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday). Following their successful production of ‘Anything Goes’ in the Gala Durham in February, DULOG brings classic tunes and themes of empowerment to the stage in a Barbie-pink musical extravaganza.
The programme also offers the rare chance to watch a production in Mandarin Chinese (with live English subtitles) in a run of the Chinese Arts Ensemble’s Mr. Donkey from Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm. When the film version was released in China in 2016, it became a cult smash-hit and inspired a media swarm with audiences and established critics clashing over its darkly funny portrayal of Chinese society.
Another standout production is Ooook! Productions’ ‘Doctor Who!’. Adapted from the popular TV series, this staging follows the tenth Doctor’s adventures in a hilarious live-action romp through time and space. Ooook! has previously adapted other TV shows, such as ‘Gavin and Stacey’, ‘Taskmaster’, and ‘Miranda’, and brings its high production values and sense of humour to raise money for Young Minds to promote better body image for young people.
Other great productions to look out for include the realisation of the story of ‘Boudica’ - a joint production by Suffragette Theatre and Durham University Classical Theatre bringing the story of a rebel queen and her crusade against Roman invaders to her beloved Britain. This runs from Thursday 6 – Saturday 8 June at 7.30pm. Another classic in the pipeline is Albee’s ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’ (Thursday 2 - Saturday 4 May, 7.30pm), the multi-award-winning exploration of human relationships brought to life by talented student actors. The programme also includes some brand-new student writing (‘milk teeth’ and ‘Incremental’), performed Monday 29 - Tuesday 30 April, which follows on from the success of Durham Drama Festival earlier this year.
Ticket prices for these shows start at £4.50, and most of the shows are family friendly.
For more information about each show, and to book your tickets, please visit: https://www.theassemblyroomstheatre.org/whats-on/.