Gala Durham announces “diverse line-up” of entertainment for cultural summer event

Olivier Award winning opera, high profile stand-up comics and fire-breathing family fun are set to round out the roster of entertainment on offer at Gala Durham this summer.

The Durham City venue, operated by Durham County Council, will welcome award-winning musical comedy duo Flo & Joan arriving on Thursday May 19 armed with a piano, percussion, songs and comedy in their latest show, Sweet Release.

The venue’s monthly The Comedy Store will also return on Sundays with a line-up of the brightest and boldest in stand-up comedy, while a host of well-known comedians are set to entertain a full house throughout May as Stewart Lee, Josh Widdicombe, Sarah Millican and Gyles Brandreth take to the stage.

Opera fans can enjoy two classics from Olivier Award winning English Touring Opera. On Monday May 9, the company will present their production of Puccini’s story of young love, La Bohème, followed by The Golden Cockerel, the final and favourite opera of Rimsky-Korsakov, on Tuesday May 10.

There are also regional stories to be shown to audiences too. Co-commissioned by Gala Durham and Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, A Way Home, shares the story of County Durham’s Category D villages with “humour, tenderness and grit”.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, commented: “We have such a diverse line-up of shows at Gala Durham this summer. With something to offer every age and taste, visitors have much to look forward to and we can’t wait to welcome them.

“We are committed to ensuring our residents and visitors have access to a wide range of culture, stories and performances. It is a key part of our bid to be named UK City of Culture 2025, as well as our wider commitment to culture-led regeneration.

“We hope everyone enjoys their visit this summer and that it helps to inspire a greater love of culture in the future.”

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