Assembly Festival has announced its first shows for its 2024 season, running Wednesday 31 July to Monday 26 August.
Dear Billy, A Love Letter to the Big Yin is written and performed by Gary McNair and directed by Joe Douglas. The National Theatre of Scotland’s critically acclaimed celebration of Billy Connolly will be heading to Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness before coming to Assembly Rooms for the Fringe. A collection of moving and hilarious stories to mark Billy Connolly’s eightieth birthday year, Dear Billy is a special and unique show that celebrates the Big Yin and what he means to the people of Scotland.
Susie McCabe returns with Merchant of Menace – fresh on the back of her very own BBC Scotland stand-up special. And with no comedy safety net, Jason Byrne presents No Show. Armed with only a bag of props and a brain brimming with chaos, witness Jason use his famous audience interactions to create a once in a lifetime show.
Assembly welcomes back actor, cartoonist, and comedian Jessie Cave (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Richard Osman's House of Games) with a show that opens up social anxiety and monogamy, couples therapy and parenting failures.
Rob Auton, otherwise known as ‘a genuine original’ (Guardian) and the ‘Mother freaking greatest’ (James Acaster) returns to Assembly Roxy after a critically acclaimed-sellout season in 2023 with his new piece The Eyes Open and Shut Show. And based on a true story, join everyone’s favourite camp Aunty, Aunty Ginger on a mission in Finding Splashman; a cornucopia of cabaret entertainment with songs, standup, and a seminar in glory hole etiquette.
Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret stars from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children, but without the rude bits! Just like a normal comedy club, but it's on in the day
The Black Blues Brothers come to Assembly as part of their farewell season. Five unleashed acrobats perform their comedy tribute to cult movie The Blues Brothers in an acrobatic celebration that joins the energy of Africa with R&B sound. After thrilling more than 500,000 spectators around the world and astonishing appearances at the Royal Variety Performance, Montecarlo Festival and Moulin Rouge, The Black Blues Brothers return on a mission to entertain Edinburgh audiences for the very last time.
The longest running burlesque night at the Fringe returns to Assembly Festival for its tenth edition. Best of Burlesque: 10 Years of Tease promises a celebration of bodies, tradition, acceptance and inclusivity, all performed in the iconic surroundings of the Bijou Spiegeltent. With changing acts every few nights, Best of Burlesque is truly unique every time you see it.
Sexy Circus Sideshow is a carnival cavalcade of saucy showgirls, sexy sideshow stunts, neurotic novelty and vaudeville variety at its very best. A thrilling, boozy freak show that connects alternative circus with the dark arts of underground burlesque and cabaret, showcasing some of the weirdest and most wonderful talent in Edinburgh. And funny, dark and baffling, the Fringe’s real-life witch is back for his 10th spellbinding year. Internationally acclaimed magician Ben Hart brings HEX, a curated collection of Ben’s favourite and most exciting material from the last decade with new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell on you.
Assembly Festival’s Fringe season will begin on Wednesday 31 July and run through to Monday 26 August. Performances will take place across Edinburgh city centre, including Assembly Festival’s year-round home Assembly Roxy, Assembly Checkpoint, Assembly Hall, Assembly Rooms, and Assembly George Square Gardens.
For tickets and further information, and to sign up to receive news about future shows at Assembly Festival 2024, visit www.assemblyfestival.com.
Pictured: Dear Billy, National Theatre of Scotland. Photo credit Sally Jubb.
