Hello! We’re the Durham Revue, Durham University’s premier sketch comedy troupe. Having celebrated our 50th anniversary last year, we have a long history of writing and performing our sketches in Durham and beyond, most notably in Edinburgh for our month-long run at the Fringe every August.

We are immensely proud to be members of the Revue, it has been brilliant fun to meet other like-minded people and spend hours writing, talking about and performing sketch comedy. It has been a fundamental part of our university experience and, quite simply, means a huge amount to us. However, the future of the Revue is currently in crisis and so we are desperately seeking your kindness, support and help!

Unfortunately, with the soaring costs of Fringe and the increasing financial constraints within the university it is harder than ever to generate the funds necessary to support our run in Edinburgh. Student comedy at Fringe is under real threat and we are no exception. Our accommodation cost has more than doubled over the past few years, venue fees are on the rise and grant opportunities within the university have been slashed. Even with meticulous budgeting and extra shows, we are facing a very real and pressing financial shortfall of £7,000 that is seriously threatening our ability to return to the Fringe.

We are reaching out with hope, asking if you might be willing to help us. Whether you’re a Revue alumni, an audience member, a kind friend or relative or someone who just loves to laugh and wants to support student comedy, any donation, no matter the size, would mean so much to us!

Without external support, the Durham Revue simply won’t be able to continue our legacy at Fringe. And more than that, without help, the future of the Revue itself, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, is at serious risk.

We’re just the latest iteration of a group of friends who, quite simply, just love writing and performing sketch comedy. It would be heartbreaking if we were one of the last.

Your kindness and support would keep Revue and its legacy alive and help future students experience the uniquely fantastic experience and opportunities that it has to offer!

With heartfelt thanks,

The Durham Revue Troupe 2024/25: Alannah O’Hare, Lex Irish, Jude Battersby, Phoenix Ashworth, Nat Pryke, Sam Bentley, Alice Barr