Aim

Supporting the highly skilled freelance theatre-makers and live event specialists whose livelihoods have been devastated by the pandemic.

A festival of freelancers

By this time of year, the weeks of work to build venues, lay artificial turf and install the colourful array of show posters would be building up to a frenzy, as our first shows of the 2020 Festival begin. There would be an unparalleled buzz as people gather in our home city for the largest arts and entertainment party in the world. I'm part of a small team of 12, which would have bloomed to nearly 900 individuals bringing it all together and supporting more than 1,000 performers and production staff.

Instead, all is quiet.

The impact of a lost summer is immense on the incredible and diverse range of people who rely on it as their livelihood. Whether they be artists, production staff, or the small army that make up our front of house, box office, and catering teams.  In addition to the countless suppliers that help us create this magical festival. 

In order to survive this incredibly challenging time, Assembly has had to take on a considerable loan to get us through to 2021. However, we still need your help to support a number of extremely valuable causes and help us make a difference this August:

• A hardship fund for the band of highly skilled freelance creators whose livelihoods have been devastated by the events of 2020.
• Supporting the artists who have lost the opportunity to put on work this summer.
• Ensuring the survival of Assembly Roxy, our year-round Edinburgh venue which is run by our sister charity Assembly Theatre.

What am I doing to raise money?

I have the absolute privilege of working with and supporting some of the world's most talented people to bring their work to the Edinburgh Fringe - incredible dramatists, musicians, cabaret performers, acrobats . . . the works. I do it through the power of spreadsheets and with the help of lots of hard-working staff.

My aim is to earn at least £150 (10% of my goal) by doing Food deliveries via Deliveroo and donate it to this project.  If I hit my target earlier, I won't stop, I will keep going until the end of August to raise as much as I can. Just to note, Deliveroo has given me a limited contract, so I can only do deliveries on Weekends

A wee thought for you all

The people who make this festival happen and every festival happens, every wedding, large scale party, or celebration too, have fallen through the cracks during the COVID crisis. Until there is a return to mass gatherings, they will remain in a precarious and difficult position. When a lockdown is finally over, the world will need these people and their skills, knowledge, and work ethic to create and stage the events that bring us so much joy. Those events that we all look back on as some of the happiest times of our lives. Now is your chance to give back to them.

 So please, donate what you can and follow my journey.

This project successfully funded on 4th September 2020