STUDENT performers in Durham have lined up a varied programme of music, theatre and Christmas cheer at venues across the city.

The season began with the annual Cathedral Carol Service in Durham Cathedral, but visitors to Durham Christmas Festival will receive a flavour at a, ‘Carol-a-thon’, on Sunday, between 10am and 5pm.

It will be raising money for Durham Music Trust, which helps to fund local children’s musical education.

The university’s a Capella group, Northern Lights, is also raising money for charity with the release of a Christmas single.

They recorded the single ‘Never Alone’ with the aim of raising £1,000 for the Durham branch of Age UK.

The single will be available on Spotify and can be download from tomorrow (December 3).

Durham University Choral Society will be performing under the baton of newly appointed conduct John Forsyth at Elvet Methodist Church next Wednesday, December 8, and the university’s Brass Band and Concert Band will team up for a concert at the same venue on Friday December 10.

The Assembly Rooms Theatre is the home for Durham Student Theatre performances throughout the year and this Christmas will be the venue for a brand-new comedy play, based on the popular BBC series ‘Miranda’. Ooook! Productions have secured permissions from comedian and writer Miranda Hart and the BBC to produce the show which will be performed from 9 – 11 December.

Katya Davisson, President of Durham University Choral Society (DUCS), summed up the feelings of student performers: “We are all so excited to be performing again, especially as we couldn’t do anything last Christmas. We really want to share what we do, with as many people as possible and enjoy Christmas as much as we can.”

Highlights of the Christmas performance programme include:

Wednesday 1 December: Durham Dynamics Winter Concert, St Oswald’s Church

Wednesday 1 December: ‘Christmas on the Hill’, Hill Orchestra, Elvet Methodist Church

Thursday 2 December: ‘Now sleeps the crimson petal’, Durham University Chamber Choir, St Oswald’s Church

Friday 3 December: Durham University Classical Ensemble, Elvet Methodist Church

Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 December: ‘Edges’, Assembly Rooms Theatre

Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 December: ‘Synthesize’, Assembly Rooms Theatre     

Saturday 4 December: ‘Reverie’, Durham University Palatinate Orchestra, St Oswald’s Church

Saturday 4 December: Choral Society Carols, Hotel Indigo

Sunday 5 December: Comedy Lock In, Assembly Rooms Theatre

Wednesday 8  December: Durham University Choral Society Carol Concert, Elvet Methodist Church

Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 December: ‘Bull’, Mark Hillery Arts Centre, Collingwood College

Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 December: ‘Miranda’, Assembly Rooms Theatre

Friday 10 December: Durham University Concert Band & Brass Band Christmas Concert, Elvet Methodist Church

For full listing, please visit: www.musicdurham.org/events, www.durhamstudentheatre.org/whats-on and www.theassemblyroomstheatre.org.

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