About Assembly

Last year was formidable in being our 30th anniversary of presenting work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  It was also our last year in the Assembly Rooms as we knew it. The building has been a unique hub and home to much of the magic that has made previous festivals so special. We are proud of the countless organisations who played with us there and the numerous Arts and Entertainment names who've graced the boards under our aegis. This building will be closed throughout 2011.

 

Thanks to Edinburgh University we turn a new page in the history of our organisation, moving the core of our operation to George Square and creating a new performance village around the east side of GeorgeSquareGardens along with indoor spaces in the surrounding buildings. There will be three tents in our new Spiegelgarden, the Teatro Spiegeltent, the Dans Paleis and the Bosco. Sitting beside this will be Mirazozo, a wonderful structure by the makers of visual magic,  Architects of Air, with a luminarium to escape into away from the madness of the festival. Around the square there will be four indoor spaces, George Square Theatre, ONE and TWO in the University's David Hume building and THREE which is being specially built for us nearby.

 

Assembly wouldn't be the same without our Club Bar, where people from the industry and the festival rub shoulders. To house this we are building a new underground concept bar - a complete change from the Georgian splendour of the Assembly Rooms as we move on from the old world to  the new.  

 

Also this year we will continue our use of the Assembly Hall with the Hall itself as our premier performance space together with the Rainy Hall and Baillie Room.

 

The programme we have put together for this year plays to Assembly's core strengths of great theatre and comedy, whilst recognising the new world of cabaret and an endless array of performance genres, some of which haven't been invented yet. 

 

We are delighted to welcome back Simon Callow performing a beautiful new play Tuesdays at Tescos and at the same time present two new plays - Midnight Your Time performed by Diana Quick and Dusk Rings a Bell -  from Hightide, one of the most important young companies on the UK theatre scene.   Equally look out for Federer vs Murray, the wonderful Guy Masterson in Shylock, the Penny Dreadfuls and the fantastic Jus Like That  - bringing Tommy Cooper back to the stage.

 

The Comedy line up is stellar with the likes of Sarah Millican, Milton Jones, Andy Parsons, Dave Gorman, Al Murray, the wonderful Horne Section, the adorable Pajama Men and the ever challenging Jerry Sadowitz.

 

Our music line up is led by Antonio Forcione, Korean Drums, Ali McGregor and the Magnets. Delightfully blending comedy and music don't miss Baby Wants Candy with their improvised musicals.

Circus and cabaret ranges from the volcanic force that is Circolombia to Lilli La Scala and Gateaux Chocolat.

 

Our Children and Families shows include Bagpuss, Big Howard Little Howard and Hairy Maclary.

 

Fans of dance and music and stunning visual performance have to see Rock the Ballet or Soy De Cuba. 

 

We have also extended our Best of the Fest brand shows. Our renowned comedy Best of the Fest has moved to the Assembly Hall. Best of the Fest Daytime that proved an enormous public hit in 2010 has moved to GeorgeSquareGardens along with our new show Best of the Fest Cabaret. And don't miss the Scotsman Best of the Fest too.

 

These are but a few shows from the amazing line up of people that will be with us for the festival. To find out more about our programme please refer to this brochure or find out more on this website. This year we will also be working with the soon to launch showcatcher.co.uk where you can get much more information about shows as well as provide feedback on what you have seen.

 

Enjoy the coming pages and relish the fantasy of Edinburgh.

 

 

 

 

"Out of this wood do not desire to go" - Midsummer Nights Dream