Interview: the Durham Revue and ComedyFest 2025

By Matthew Travis

This is an edited transcript of a conversation between the presidents of the Durham Revue, Alannah O’Hare and Lex Irish, and Indigo’s Stage Editor, Matthew Travis.

M: Hello Alannah and Lex. Thank you so much for sitting down with me. I have a few questions about your upcoming show, ComedyFest, on Saturday at the Gala Theatre, and what makes your sketch comedy so special. Obviously, the Durham Revue is one of, if not the premier sketch comedy group in the country. You have a three-week residency at the Edinburgh Fringe coming up this August. What do you think the reason is for the Durham Revue’s success? 

“Collaboration is something that we’ve really put an emphasis on”

L: I think there are a couple of reasons: firstly, we have an intensive audition process, which includes three rounds where we see what people have written as well as performing sketches that we’ve already performed at previous Fringes; secondly, it is the consistency of how often we meet. Usually, we meet three times a week – for about nine hours in total. This means that we get a lot of time to go over sketches. When editing them, each person will put a joke into that sketch, and we keep this going until we have something that we are really, really confident in.

A: The trust is huge because it’s kind of scary to write something and back yourself to make something really funny. So, collaboration is something that we’ve really put an emphasis on. The final destination is always the month at the Fringe. We will have rehearsed for a full year before, and by the time we get up to Edinburgh, we will have like 10 months’ worth of original sketches – it’s very rigorous.

L:  It does make us very distinct from other groups too. Other groups come together just to make a Fringe show or to take an existing show to Edinburgh. We just keep going throughout the whole year.

M: What do you think are your main influences in comedy, and how does that influence your creative process?

“Especially this year we’ve got such a range of people having really distinct influences, which means that you’ve got a real range of comedy being written”

L: I think that’s actually really interesting because I would say that each person comes with their own background. What each person likes really influences the sketches that they produce. I’m really big into physical comedy, people like Rowan Atkinson and his sketch comedy shows. So, I create quite big characters with lots of physical movements. It’s very different to Alannah’s kind of writing.

A: I like kind of wordy, verging on the absurd sketches: Smack the Pony, French and Saunders, Mitchell and Webb, Victoria Wood – that kind of vibe. It’s something we ask people quite a lot about in the auditions. Especially this year we’ve got such a range of people having really distinct influences, which means that you’ve got a real range of comedy being written. 

M: That sounds brilliant. I guess it is the diversity that keeps things moving and fresh. With this in mind, what do you think sets the Durham Revue apart from the rest of DST?

A: We’re quite insular. This year we’ve got seven members of the troop: we have five writers/performers and a further two writers. 

L: It’s collaborative, I would say. 

A: We recruit in October, and then we really lock in. We don’t have an exec, and we don’t have producers. We do absolutely everything ourselves – that makes us different to other theatre companies.

M: Well, now to your upcoming show. Very exciting. For a bit of background, the Cambridge Footlights and the Leeds Tealights are no strangers to the sketch comedy scene, the Fringe, or to collaborating with the Durham Revue in the past. Why have you decided to do ComedyFest with them?

“I would say that the partnership that we have with Cambridge and Leeds is really strong and it’s something that we’ve done for many, many years”

A: I think the Cambridge Footlights and Leeds Tealights are quite renowned. I would say as well that they have a great reputation and are really strong groups. They are also a singular troupe for the year, and, I guess, have a very similar process to us. It is a kind of a mix of tradition and knowing that you’re going to get quality guaranteed.

L: I would say that the partnership that we have with Cambridge and Leeds is really strong and it’s something that we’ve done for many, many years. The Durham Revue has developed this relationship for a reason, but we really want to try to collaborate with other groups at other universities as well.

A: Our network goes beyond just Cambridge and Leeds. We’re going to Bristol this week to do a show with the Bristol Revunions and the Oxford Revue.

M: What can we expect from ComedyFest on Saturday?

L: Laughter, just straight laughter.

A: You can expect a good two hours of 100% new material. We haven’t done any of these sketches before. We are also a brand-new troupe because there are only two members who were also in the Revue last year. It will be something new and exciting.

M: Why did you decide to do the show in Durham? Why not Cambridge or Leeds?

L: Well, I think there is something really nice about inviting those universities up to our university. I think that it really shows something about our group and it’s always good to have our biggest and first show here in Durham.

A: ComedyFest has been going for over 20 years in the Gala. It’s an annual thing. It is also a privilege: it is our biggest venue that we perform at. It’s exciting to kick off the year there, and we think it will get everyone inspired.

L: Not many other university groups get the chance to perform in the Gala Theatre, so, especially for our group, it’s really, really big.

M: For one night as well, it is kind of a big deal. So, final question, what is next for the Durham Revue?

“I think a lot of people are like, “Oh, that’s not my thing”, and so we just want to get them along and show them a good time”

A: Wow, we have plans! We want to break away from just traditional shows at big theatres. We want to do smaller, more informal performances – we’ve tried this a couple of times and are just seeing how they are going. In these unconventional venues, they’ve been really successful.

L: For me, it is working out new ways of engagement: whether that be in pubs or in university space – just anything that we can do to get comedy to people.

A: We also want to widen the amount of people who know about the Durham Revue and reassure them that they will probably like sketch comedy. I think a lot of people are like, “Oh, that’s not my thing”, and so we just want to get them along and show them a good time. I’d say keep an eye on us because we’ve got big plans! 

L: We will be doing another show in Durham after this one. Just make sure to keep on the lookout and each show will bring new content. There’s always a reason to come and see something new and exciting.

M: Well, thank you very much. I can’t wait to see what you have for us on Saturday at the Gala!

The Durham Revue’s ComedyFest 2025 will be in performance at the Gala Theatre, Durham on Saturday 8 February. Tickets are available here.

Image Credit: The Durham Revue