The sporting year is now well underway, after this Wednesday saw the first full day of competitive fixtures. Durham has more teams than ever in the Premiership league and many of our 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams won promotion to higher leagues this year, meaning that they will face many university 1st teams as opposition over the coming months. Despite some tough games, especially against sides from Birmingham, Loughborough and Leeds Met, Durham has finished 3rd in the BUCS rankings at the end of week two.

Lacrosse had a fantastic start to the season with both the men’s and women’s teams winning all of their matches. The men’s rugby 1st team got off to a difficult start against Leeds Met, trailing 10-3, but managed to win 21-15 in the end. The hockey 1st and 2nd teams had a tough time, but the 3rd and 4th teams had a fantastic day with some impressive wins.

After a difficult season last year, the men’s and women’s squash teams were delighted to start this year’s campaign winning all six of their matches. Sadly, it was not the same for netball who came up against tough opposition and lost all of their four games. To stay up to date with all of the sporting news, please visit the Team Durham website.

It’s the last chance to see 'The Last 5 Years' at the Assembly Rooms; a Musical following the falling in and out of love of a young New York writer, and his actress Wife. The show marries together beautiful orchestration, and soaring vocals, moments of tragedy, and wonderful comedy - performed by a hand-picked cast and orchestra, this production is set to be one of the headline shows of the academic year: not to be missed!

When: 17th-20th October, 7:30pm (Performances end at 9pm)

Tickets are priced at £5 for University members (please ensure you have your Campus Card) and £6 for non-University members. Tickets and can be bought on the door or online.

With 17 aerobics classes and 24 X-biking sessions a week going on at Maiden Castle there is no reason to get fit for Christmas! Based on feedback the BodyTone Tuesday lunchtime will now run from 13.05 to 13.50. A full timetable is available here or contact reception on 0191 334 2178.

On Thursday 1st November there will be a staff theatre trip to see ‘The 39 Steps’. The 39 Steps, is a suspenseful-romantic-comedy, based on the 1935 movie by Alfred Hitchcock. It is part juicy spy novel, part Monty Python, and it preserves the brilliance originally created by the master of suspense. The show will take place in the Assembly Rooms from 7:30pm.

If you would like to come along please get in touch and join us to support Durham Student Theatre.

This weekend, Durham Castle opens the doors of its spectacular Senate Suite for performances of Peter Schaffer’s classic comedy Lettice and Lovage from 18th-20th October. Usually closed to the public, the Senate Suite is an exquisite venue lined with vast seventeenth century Flemish tapestries.

Following eccentric tour guide Lettice Douffet as she resolves to “light up the corridors of the past as with a blazing torch”, Lettice and Lovage fits the Suite perfectly. Numerous Castle Tour Guides lead hundreds of enthralled tourists around the Castle each year, but unlike them Miss Douffet does not “confine” herself to historical accuracy. It is not long before Miss Douffet is promptly sacked for her inventions and embarks on a melodramatic downward spiral with wigs, warmongering and stuffed cats along the way.

The show will be performed in association with Castle Theatre Company as part of the annual Book Festival, and will head an exciting season which includes new musical Anonymous and Co in Durham Cathedral’s Monk’s Dormitory (20th and 21st October), The Tempest in the Norman Chapel and Moliere’s Tartuffe in the Castle Great Hall (16th-18th November).

Also taking place next week, Kronos Productions bring their critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe 2012 sell-out production of Oscar Wilde’s once-banned ‘Salome’ to the Assembly Rooms. The play follows the eponymous anti-heroine, the infamous stepdaughter of the Tetrach Herod, observing her descent into an obsession from which she must take desperate measures to escape, culminating in a gruesome and fatal request. For more information, please visit the Durham Student Theatre website.

Celebrate Science Festival
‘Celebrate Science’ is a fun-packed 3 days of free events, activities, workshops and lectures aimed at a family audience. Exhibitors carry out exciting experiments and demonstrations to show how much fun science can be and it's a fantastic opportunity for the University to promote its science offering and research in a highly engaging and interactive way. We are looking for volunteers to help out with general stewarding duties in and around the marquee. You can volunteer for anything from a few hours or the whole 3 days. If you would like to volunteer, or for more information please get in touch.

Team Challenges
Ever thought Van Mildert Lake needs a bit of tlc? Then now is your chance as we are looking for six volunteers to assist with some undergrowth and tree seedling removal around the lake edge at Van Mildert College. Tea and coffee will be provided.

When: Wednesday 14th November
Sign-Up

The Friends of Old Durham Gardens is a volunteer group, who are working to restore the gardens to their former glory. If you would like to help in this enormous task and join them for half  a day of gardening come along and help out! Both staff and students are welcome.

When: Afternoon of Wednesday 28th November.
Sign-Up

Haven't played netball in a while? Fancy an informal and fun game? Come along to Maiden Castle from 5-6pm on a Thursday evening and get back to Netball!

All ages (4+), genders and ability welcome, with a junior session running alongside the adults. Sessions costs just £2.50. For more information please get in touch with Katie Binks.