Last night was the incredible Assembly Festival Gala. It is one date, that is always in my diary. Held annually at the end of July beginning of August to start off the incredible festival frenzy in Edinburgh. Each year gets better and better, with a line-up of skilled and talented artists/performers including dance, music, comedy, and more! Let's dive into 2024's Assembly Festival Gala.
Assembly Festival Gala Review, Edinburgh 2024
About Assembly Festival Gala
The Assembly Festival was born in 1981 when founder and artistic director William Burdett-Coutts took on the iconic Assembly Rooms to present several shows at the Fringe. Based in Edinburgh at Assembly Roxy, they run the Assembly Festival at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (the longest-running of the curated multi-venue operators) and tour with the best programme. Throughout the year, hosting theatre, music, comedy, and events in the beautiful Roxy in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.
The doors open to the courtyard at 7pm where you can enjoy a drink from the bar. Queues start to form around 30 minutes before this time. Always a sell-out, register for updates, and buy your tickets online in advance. Over, the course of a couple of hours you get to see a few out of hundreds of skilled performers, perform a small segment of their whole show. Wow, it is a smorgasbord!
Line up Edinburgh Festival Assembly Gala 2024
Reuben Kaye: Live and Intimidating
Reuben Kaye and his band are back with the UK debut of his award-nominated show Live and Intimidating! The obscenely intelligent, rib-crackingly funny Reuben Kaye returns to the Edinburgh Fringe in an explosion of high camp and filthy humour. With musical direction by Shanon Whitelock and original compositions, this Swarovski-studded revolt is what happens when you tell your children they can be anything. 'A star in their own right, with razor-sharp comedic material, a glamorous look and killer voice to boot' ***** (Skinny). ***** (Time Out).
Jason Byrne: No Show
There’s no show like a Jason Byrne NO SHOW. NO SHOW is a show with no comedy safety net. By the end of NO SHOW you’ll have experienced a once in a lifetime show or NO SHOW. Jason, along with the audience, will begin NO SHOW with no show whatsoever. Witness Jason use his infamous audience interactions with a sprinkle of props, both on and off the stage, to create NO SHOW! Your 'full-on, double-up, gasping-for-oxygen hilarious' (Chortle.co.uk) NO SHOW will never be repeated.
Camillie O'Sullivan: Loveletter
A love letter in song to those loved & missed. Her 20th Fringe, “Queen of the Fringe” (BBC), Camille’s new show celebrates dear friend Shane McGowan, Sinead O’Connor, Cohen, Bowie, Radiohead. 5-star sell-out shows: Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Roundhouse. Telegraph voted Camille “One of top 25 performances ever on Later with Jools”, toured with The Pogues, original La Clique star, Herald Angel winner ‘Lucrece’ RSC. Camille & Feargal Murray have created a very intimate, heartfelt show, capturing an honest response to those much loved & lost.“Spellbinding storytelling in song, magnificent” ***** The Times
Recirquel: Paradisum
The myth of regenesis following the silence of a perished world is explored in Paradisum, where the body is the medium, the movement is the common language. The creatures of this idyllic existence emerge from the fabric of life pulsating around them with its continuously transforming, whirling force of nature as they move through scenes of purgation, nativity, awakening and rite to reach the anima mundi (world soul). After IMA (2023) and My Land (2018), Recirquel returns with a new premier directed by Bence Vági, creating an ethereal terminology utilising cirque dance to discuss humanity's global concerns.
ARI: The Spirit of Korea
Winner, Best Physical Theatre Award 2023, Adelaide Fringe. ARI is a transformative musical odyssey that brings the 600-year-old folk song Arirang to life, exploring universal themes of love and connection. Recognized twice by UNESCO, ARI is a testament to the song's enduring legacy and the power of personal bonds. Celebrated for its vibrant music and storytelling, ARI takes audiences on a profound emotional journey, echoing Korea's rich cultural heritage. 'Uplifting, magical, and wonderous' ***** (TheAUReview.com). 'ARI is Korean culture at its best with a happy ending!' (StageWhispers.com.au).
Afrique En Cirque
Afrique en Cirque. A show by Yamoussa Bangoura, inspired by daily life in Guinea. This performance shares the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture. A colourful show beyond its scenery, costumes and staging, that will make any theatre vibrate with energy. It represents strength, agility and life's joys of young Africans. The audience will see our acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, all to the contemporary sounds of afro-jazz, percussion, and Kora. Welcome to the universe of Kalabanté Productions, and prepare for an unforgettable journey.
Bronwyn Kuss: Sounds Good
Armed with dry charm, Bronwyn brings her solo debut to Edinburgh. Captivating audiences with wry tales of misadventures and admittedly poor life choices, Bronwyn is a writer and comedian whose specialty is extremely dry recounts of everyday tragedies to great comedic effect. Energy can't be created or destroyed, but it sure can be misplaced.
Winner – Director's Choice Award & Pinder Prize, Melbourne Comedy Festival.
As seen on ABC's Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala.
Directed by Maggie Looke.
'A magnetic performer' ★★★★½ (TheatreMatters.com.au).
'Kuss captivates with wry anecdotes' ★★★★ (Time Out).
'A hard hour to fault' ★★★★ (Age).
Rouge
Circus for grown-ups. A non-stop celebration of the astonishing, surprising, subversive and the supremely sexy - award-winning Australian circus cabaret sensation Rouge is returning to Edinburgh with its outrageous brand of adult circus. 'One badass sizzler of a show' ***** (Daily Mail). 'A sexy, slick celebration and empowering spectacle' ***** (EdFestmag.com). 'If you aren't turned on by this you might want to consult a physician, because you're probably clinically dead' ***** (SmutButtons.com). 'What really made this show stand out was the pure, unadulterated joy that came from every single performer' ***** (OutInPerth.com).
Ten Thousand Hours
Following the hit sell-out sensations Macro and The Pulse at the Edinburgh International Festival, and Fringe-favourite smash-hit A Simple Space, Gravity & Other Myths return with their critically acclaimed, brand-new show Ten Thousand Hours. This is an ode to the countless hours needed to achieve great things. Eight acrobats investigate physical skill: how we obtain it, how we perfect it and how it can transform our lives. This family-friendly acrobatic extravaganza is filled with everything you love about Gravity & Other Myths and a tribute to the dedication required to become a world-class acrobat.
Dizney in Drag: Once Upon a Parody
Take a magic carpet ride into an enchanted castle of adult fantasies and fairy tale follies. Dizney in Drag: Once Upon a Parody is a Whole New World you didn't know you needed! Follow some familiar characters and discover sides of them unbelievably yet to be revealed. If you have any reservation, just Let It Go. Be Our Guest and book a seat now! 'A romp that defies the boundaries of genre, heteronormativity, and happy endings' ***** (FringeFeed.com.au).'There is so much to love about this show' ***** (WeekendNotes.com). Also, don't miss The Hairy Godmothers' newest production 'Villains: A Dizney in Drag Parody' (showing every other night of fringe).
Circolombia: Corazón
With nerves of steel, music from the soul and tons of Colombian spirit, Circolombia welcomes you into their house, their home, their heart! All the way from South America, created especially for the Spiegeltent!In this world premiere, Circolombia invites you to experience Corazón (Heart). A fun-fuelled circus concert, packed with breathless feats, gravity-defying performance and infectious music where you, the audience, are taken right into their beating Latin hearts. Colombia is the land of a thousand rhythms. Vibrant, passionate and pulsating with energy. 'This is the circus that shows others how it's done. Go' (Scotsman).
Ben Hart: HeX
The Fringe's real-life witch is back for his 10th spellbinding year. Internationally acclaimed magician Ben's shows are a unique kind of alchemy. Funny, dark and baffling, Hart's an altogether new species of conjurer... HeX is a curated collection of Ben's favourite and most exciting material from the last decade alongside new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell on you. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Palais Du Variete and full to the brim with magic, don't miss this chance to catch the star of stage and screen up-close and in real life.
Swamplesque
After taking Australia by storm, everyone's favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody is finally coming to Edinburgh! Swamplesque is the award-winning, critically acclaimed, burlesque parody show from Far Far Away! This 'outrageously fun' (Advertiser, Adelaide) show offers its audience a smörgåsbord of performance styles. 'Brilliantly executed, side-splittingly funny' ***** (TheUpsideNews.com). 'A high quality, raucous and silly fairy tale adventure' ***** (WeekendNotes.com). 'The surrealness is unmatched, unlike any burlesque show you'll probably ever see' ***** (TheCuriousWriter.net). Winner, Best Cabaret Weekly Award (Adelaide Fringe). Winner, Best Cabaret Weekly Award (Fringe World).
Adam Hills
The UK’s favourite monopedal Aussie (and host of Channel 4’s The Last Leg) is back with a brand new show, combining positive stand-up comedy with rampant spontaneity. “Effortlessly brilliant” (The Guardian) “Achingly funny and uplifting” (The Telegraph)
It was an interesting, fun, and highly entertaining evening. So many highlights from these 14 performers and performances out of hundreds! Now which ones to go see in full? They were all brilliant! There is something for everyone at Assembly Festival at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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