Based at Assembly Roxy, Assembly Festival is part of the Edinburgh Fringe. It is the longest running of the curated multi-venue operators, chalking up some 40 years.
According to the Assembly website: “Assembly was born in 1981 when founder and artistic director William Burdett-Coutts took on the iconic Assembly Rooms to host several shows at the Fringe. This concept of a curated hub, or festival within a festival, proved a hit and set the mould for countless others to follow.”
An impressive list of now household names launched their careers on an Assembly stage, including Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand, Bill Bailey and Sandi Toksvig.
Read more: Edinburgh Fringe: Top capital cocktail bars to visit during the festival
The organisation has mainly been associated with the Assembly Rooms on George Street, which it returned to in 2017 after an absence of seven years. However, it has several other key Fringe venues and there are some £5 tickets available.
What are the main Assembly venues and where are they?
Details on the Assembly venues are available on the website. But below at four key ones:
Assembly Rooms
The iconic Assembly Rooms building is at the heart of the New Town, and plays host to six performance spaces with the Music Hall, Ballroom, Drawing Room, Powder Room, Front Room and Bijou. On George Street you will find a bar, street food, and the box office.
Location: 54 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2LR. Call: 0131 623 3030.
A couple of shows to catch: Best of Burlesque; Frankie Boyle. Tickets available online.
Assembly Checkpoint
Assembly Checkpoint is on Bristo Place, about halfway between the Royal Mile and Assembly George Square. It houses one main venue that plays host to mix of cabaret, music, variety and theatrical shows.
Location: 3 Bristo Place , Edinburgh, EH1 1EY. Call: 0131 623 3030.
A couple of shows to catch: Mojo; Prehysterical. Tickets available online.
Assembly Hall
This is Assembly's premier headline venue on the Mound. Assembly Hall's box office is located by the entrance on the Mound.
Location: Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU. Call: 0131 623 3030.
A couple of shows to catch: Muse; Peppa Pig. Tickets available online.
Assembly George Square Studios
The studios are in the hub in George Square. The venue hosts six performance spaces including Studio One to Five and The Flick at Underground. The studios also boast the Studios Bar with a cafe and pool tables, Club Bar and Container Bar.
Location: George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LK. Call 131 623 3030.
A couple of shows to catch: David O’Doherty; Myra’s Story. Tickets available online.
Assembly Roxy
Assembly Roxy hosts four performance spaces during the festival – Upstairs, Central, Downstairs and the Snug Bar. During the festival Roxburgh Place is closed, so you can relax there before the show.
Location: 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9SU. Call: 0131 623 3030.
A couple of shows to catch: Famous Puppet Death Scenes; She Wolf. Tickets available online.
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