Operating Information

Operating Information & Services Provided

Official dates of the Festival Fringe are 7 - 31 August 2009
Assembly will run from 5 - 31 August 2009

Venues
The venues we run during the festival are:

Applying to perform at Assembly
Applications for Assembly's 2009 season are now open. We travel all over the world looking for fantastic, great new shows to perform at Assembly year round.

Please submit your application either by email or post using the contact details below:

Rebecca Austin - Programme Manager - rebecca@assemblyfestival.com

Assembly Theatre, Riverside Studios, Crisp Rd London W6 9RL.

We do not use a formal application form but ask instead that you supply as much relevant material as you have available - script/DVD/reviews etc - and a covering letter indicating your preferred space.

Services Provided
Assembly is able to provide basic theatre facilities most with raked seating, general lighting and sound PA rig – details available on request. Most of our theatre spaces are built specifically for the Festival so of course there are some restrictions. Each year we aim to improve and enhance the theatre spaces we provide. If you require more information please dont hesitate to contact us for further details.

Scheduling
Performances run from 10.00am until 2.00am the next morning and each of our theatre spaces may present up to ten shows every day. Technical restrictions and tight turn-around times mea we can only fulfill specific requests if given enough warning so it is imperative that you return your technical questionnaires promptly once they are issued. Rehearsal times are also similarly constrained. Whilst we encourage new work at the Festival, we must stress that we can only allocate each company enough time to familiarise themselves with the space and there is little if any time for rehearsals. Although some times of day are perceived as better slots than others, its well proven over the years that the success of a show depends primarily on its quality and not on the time slot provided. Most shows programmed are advised to appear for the full duration of the Festival (26 days), have previews in Week 0 and have a maximum of 3 days off (usually Mondays). Assembly does however programme one off events and sometimes shows appear only in weeks 1 and 2. Opening a show midway through the Festival has often proved to be quite difficult so please think about any such request carefully. Shows generally run between 50-70 minutes without an interval. Once the timings have been set, this cannot be altered. The essence of the Fringe is to have strong and powerful yet short shows.

Staff
Assembly endeavour to provide the best staff on the Edinburgh Fringe. Importantly our technical staff ensure that all of the theatres run smoothly and effectively. We expect any visting technical staff to have the necessary experience to operate your show although this service can be provided by Assembly for a fee.

Box Office and Ticketing
Ticket prices are set by the venue after consultation with all parties. The ticket price set includes VAT at the current rate. Please advise us of your VAT status (applies to UK registered companies only). Assembly's Box Office is linked to the same ticketing system as the Pleasance, Gilded Balloon, Underbelly. This enables Assembly to offer customers a wide range of options for buying tickets. Assembly charges a ticket commission of 4%. Please see the Mandatory Costs for further details of charges.

Marketing and Press
Assembly has both press and marketing departments responsible for promoting Assembly venues and the programme that Assembly has on offer. This dedicated team of staff is on hand to provide valuable information with regards to press coverage, print, promotions and all marketing and communications issues. Assembly has an experienced in house Street Team that, for small charge, will promote your show. Whilst wanting to provide you with the best service possible, Assembly's Press Office and Marketing Department cannot be solely responsible for the promotion of our show. This is a strenuous and extremely important task that the company must be willing to take on board and fulfill to ensure the success of the show.

Publicity
In 2008 Assembly was part of a joint brochure with the Pleasance, Gilded Baloon and Underbelly to showcase our programme. The 400,000 copies we produced were distributed by Assembly's media partner The Scotsman newspaper, by distribution companies across Edinburgh and the UK, National Express and to venue databases, press and the media. Shows at the Queens Hall also benefit from being in their summer brochure at no extra cost. Each company is charged a fixed and mandatory rate to appear in the brochure - please contact us for further details. The brochure entry includes an image, one sponsor logo, website addresses, copy and show details.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Brochure
It is essential that your show registers with the Fringe and places an entry in their Fringe brochure. Assembly will coordinate this on behalf of their participating companies. The Fringe also run Fringe Sunday which is a huge event thats free to the public, as well as stages on the High Street in Edinburgh – both are great ways to gain public exposure.

Sponsorship
We depend on sponsorship and usually have a headline sponsor. This does not prevent individual companies carrying sponsorship of their own, but it does need to be approved by us. You should note that our sponsors usually include exclusivity clauses re competitive branding and in the event that this becomes a problem we have to retain the right of veto for visiting company sponsorship.

Television
All television recording during the Festival must be cleared with the venue and facility fees agreed. Assembly appreciates discussion concerning the first option on developing any performance presented for television, radio or recording purposes.

We Provide

• The theatre space for a time agreed between us
• General lighting rig and PA sound rig - precise details available on request
• Box office and front of house arrangements
• Venue production staff
• Public Liability Insurance for the building

You Provide

• Rights to present the show 
• Your own cast and crew
• Your own insurance and Public Liability Insurance
• Your own promotional material