A new home for Durham’s performing arts community
About Durham Fringe Academy
For five years, the Durham Fringe Festival has brought independent performance to the heart of Durham City — a celebration of creativity, risk-taking, and connection. The festival has grown rapidly, with ticket sales reaching just under 10,000 in 2025.
Our contribution to the local arts scene has led us to identify an urgent need for year-round support for performing arts professionals in Durham, the North East, and indeed further afield. Many talented people want to bring live performance to the stage, but face barriers — from finding affordable rehearsal space and technical know-how, to understanding funding, marketing, and production. The Durham Fringe Academy (DFA) is our answer: a practical, inclusive and welcoming hub where artists, producers and technicians can learn, make, and thrive. Durham Fringe Academy is multifaceted, with an online provision that is complemented by in-person activities.
We aim to support performing artists, producers and technicians at every stage — from their first creative spark to becoming established professionals — by offering space, skills, networks, and opportunities all year round.
About The Academy, our new venue
Coming Summer 2026...
This summer, we are opening The Academy, a new performing arts venue which will serve not only as a space for events but house a practical, inclusive and welcoming hub where artists, producers and technicians can learn, make, practice and thrive.
The Academy will host a range of workshops, masterclasses, and networking events for people interested in performing arts. We recognise Durham City Centre is lacking affordable spaces for people to rehearse, and we are thrilled that The Academy will also offer a large, flexible rehearsal space which will soon be available for hire.
Crucially, The Academy is an exciting new space to see incredible shows in Durham City Centre! Our 70-capacity theatre space will soon play host to five days of performances during the 6th Durham Fringe Festival, and it will be a space which we bring to life with regular Durham Fringe Presents events.
We hope to share this new asset with a network of local organisers, producers and theatre makers who are looking for a new space to showcase their work. Over the next 12 months you’ll be able to see a huge range of performing arts in our new Prince Bishops spot!
More details about about how you can become a Durham Fringe Academy member will be launched soon.
The Durham Fringe Academy is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
We are also grateful to our venue's key sponsor, EMG Solicitors.
