Assembly Festival is a one-stop shop for all your summer entertainment needs at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Audiences can expect outrageous comedy, dazzling circus feats, compelling theatre, playful children’s shows and a diverse assortment of food and drink options. There truly is something for everyone.
For a taste of home, there’s some fabulous Scottish talent coming to Assembly this year, including Beyond Boundaries, a triple-bill, hip-hop spectacular. You’ll also see SKETCHES/Glisk from Aberdonian choreographer Katie Armstrong as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase. Both shows are being presented as part of an inaugural collaboration with Dance Base at the Grassmarket.
For thrill-seekers who want to be wowed by incredible, gravity-defying acrobatics, be sure to catch the all-female Aussie circus troupe, YUCK Circus, in the George Square Gardens. Known for throwing back pints of beer while fearlessly throwing themselves around on stage, YUCK uses impressive acrobatics and aerial performance to get into the grotesque nature of beauty standards, bougie art, and gender misconceptions.
Don’t miss the Edinburgh debut of critically-acclaimed Afrique en Cirque from West African-Canadian circus troupe, Kalabanté. The troupe will be performing at flagship venue Assembly Hall, with gravity-defying moves and a contemporary Afro Jazz soundtrack.
Or, why not catch the comedy-infused theatrics of The Black Blues Brothers at the Assembly Rooms? This acrobatic celebration of rhythm and music inspired by the cult-classic film is sure to be popular.
If it’s a night of riotous laughs you’re after, you can’t go past the razor-sharp punchlines of Glaswegian Susie McCabe: Femme Fatality – “one of the best storytelling comics in the UK right now” (The List) – who is playing the George Square Studios.
It’s a special year for Australian comics, with the hilarious duo The Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction celebrating its 30th Fringe anniversary at Assembly Roxy as well as the exciting Edinburgh debut of 2023 Pinder Prize-winner Hannah Camilleri: Lolly Bag.
Perhaps you crave a compelling theatre show to help you reflect on our shared humanity? In which case, productions like Lena, Kyiv City Ballet or The Life & Times of Michael K might be more your speed.
Lena looks at 1970s child star Lena Zavaroni starring Jon Culshaw (Dead Ringers) and Erin Armstrong (Shetland) while Kyiv City Ballet pays a beautiful Tribute to peace amid trying times. JM Coetzee’s The Life & Times of Michael K features intricate puppetry from the same company that brought you War Horse.
Fans of Kirstin Innes’ Scabby Queen will love What Girls Are Made Of, a high-octane gig theatre show about Cora Scotland’s music scene.
And lovers of commercial dance should come along to Beats on Pointe, a family-friendly fusion of ballet and street dance, and 360 ALLSTARS, which blends BMX, basketball, breakdancing, beatboxing, acrobatics, drumming and more in its 10th-anniversary production.
For an all-encompassing immersion for the senses, you can’t skip out on the spellbinding world of IMA by Recirquel. This popular troupe will be taking over the Murrayfield Ice Rink for the entirety of August.
With a programme that spans the genres and with venues across the city, Assembly Festival has everything you need for the ultimate Fringe experience this year.
Based year-round at Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh’s Southside, the venue hosts some of the most popular festival hubs in the city. From the bustling centre of Assembly George Square Gardens to the Georgian elegance of the outdoor garden at Assembly Rooms on George Street, Assembly is the first stop for a fantastic Fringe.
For more information on the upcoming shows and to book your tickets, head to the Assembly Festival website.
