Two Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues set to relocate following Princes Street fire
Assembly Festival has announced that two venues will relocate to St Andrew Square following Princes Street fire
Assembly Festival has announced it will relocate two of its Edinburgh Fringe Festival venues to St Andrew Square amid the chaos caused by the Princes Street fire.
The two affected venues are the Bijou and Front Room, venues normally located on George Street, will now open in the southeast corner of St Andrew Square from August 6 to August 30. The move comes after traffic diversions being made on Princes Street meaning the usual road closures on George Street could not go ahead.
The City of Edinburgh Council and Essential Edinburgh say they have been working closely together to ensure that all original 17 shows can still take place. It includes shows like ‘Scaramouche Jones, Frisky’s Remix Roulette, Arachne/ Athena and Smashing Shakespeare: Brave Macbeth.
A temporary bar, box office and seating area will also be created, with Assembly Festival describing it as ‘ a vibrant garden atmosphere’ for audiences.
Indoor performances at the Assembly Rooms on George Street will go ahead as planned.
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive, Essential Edinburgh: “We have been delighted to work with Assembly Festival and the city of Edinburgh Council to facilitate the moving of Festival activity to St Andrew Square Garden for this August. Once it was clear that George Street could not be closed this year due to the fire, it was vital for all parties that we did everything we could to move the planned activity to another venue in the New Town to ensure the buzz and excitement of August remained. It has been an exceptional effort by everyone concerned to make this happen in such a short timeframe.”
Miss Frisky, of Frisky’s Remix Roulette said: “Orchestrating a move like this so quickly after the Princes Street fire is a massive testament to everyone involved. I’m thrilled that Frisky's Remix Roulette has found such a brilliant new home in St Andrew Square, and I can't wait to bring the party there every night!"
Tickets are available at www.assemblyfestival.com.