Fringe closes on a high as Assembly Festival secures future at Assembly Rooms until 2032
A celebratory close to the 44th Assembly Festival with our venue
We are delighted to announce that Assembly Festival has won the tender to continue running our beloved venue during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 2032. This has secured the company’s presence in the New Town for the next seven years, as it also celebrates the successful close of its 44th Festival.
Assembly Festival takes its name from iconic building where it all began in 1981. Shortly out of university, Assembly’s Artistic Director and founder William Burdett-Coutts approached Edinburgh Council about hiring a single room, the Wildman Rooms. Instead, he was offered the whole building — and so the story of Assembly began.
That first year saw 57 shows staged across five rooms, establishing the first multi-hub model of the Fringe. Since then, Assembly has become a powerhouse of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, launching the careers of household names including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Griff Rhys Jones, Emma Thompson, Lenny Henry and Rick Mayall, and presenting shows such as Freestyle Love Supreme spearheaded by Lin-Manuel Miranda and featuring Chris Jackson of Hamilton fame.
Reflecting on the renewed contract, Artistic Director William Burdett-Coutts said: “The Assembly Rooms is where our story started, and to know we will continue here until 2032 is hugely exciting. It gives us the opportunity to reinvigorate Assembly’s presence in the New Town, and to look forward with confidence as we plan the future.”
The City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Margaret Graham added: “As the festivals draw to a close and we reflect on another successful year as a venue, we’re thrilled to confirm the continuation of our partnership with Assembly Festival. This renewed agreement will see the Assembly Rooms animated each August for the next seven years, building on an already successful collaboration that has brought outstanding performances, global talent, and thousands of visitors to the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town.”
Gallery Image
Gallery Image
Gallery Image
Gallery Image