It’s all going on at the Assembly this year, with a bold move to a brand spanking new set of performance spaces in George Square and a line-up that easily outdoes the other big venues in terms of variation and proven quality.
One of our favourite performers Bryony Kimmings follows up last years impressive Sex Idiot with new show 7 Day Drunk – not to be missed – while Federer Versus Murray and The Man Who Was Hamlet have already had great notices.
The headline theatre ticket is of course Simon Callow’s performance in Tuesday at Tescos – the UK adaptation of hit French play ‘Le Mardi a Monoprix’ (see what they did there?). Callow plays Pauline, a lovable transvestite. Surely enough of a selling-point for anyone, right?
Comedy lovers are spoilt for choice, with shows by Glenn Wool, Sarah Millican and Andrew Maxwell alongside the welcome return of geeky googlewhacker Dave Gorman. There’s much buzz around Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler’s variety show Hot Tub, and everybody should see The Horne Section – Alex Horne’s big-band backed stand-up extravaganza – at least once during the month. Physical comedy masters The Pajama Men continue their mission to sweep up as many five-star reviews as humanly possible: beg, borrow or steal a ticket.
What's that you say? Nothing we've mentioned has tickled your fancy? Well fear not, dear reader - as always with Assembly, all tastes are catered for.
Fans of people doing unspeakably impressive things with their bodies should go watch Circolombia and Bang Bang Circus make full use of the new tented surroundings, while late night Cabaret junkies can go get their thing on at Eat Your Heart Out, The Mess and Le Gateau Chocolat.
Browsing the family section made us go misty-eyed for our long departed childhoods: it’s Bagpuss and Hairy Maclary mum! There’s also Marty Jopson blowing things up in front of kids. Hell yeah.
A big transitional year for Assembly then, but one that should go off without a hitch if that line-up is anything to go by. It wouldn’t surprise us if it proved to be the most talked-about venue all summer.
I mean, all of the above and Paul Daniels. The Paul Daniels?
Well played, Assembly.
