Assembly Theatre Accuses Assembly Fringe of 'Passing Off'

William Burdett-Coutts, the artistic director of Assembly Theatre, the organisation which ran Fringe shows at the Assembly Rooms before moving to George Square due to the building's refurbishment in 2010, has accused Assembly Fringe is "passing off" by using the Assembly brand name. As previously reported in BroadwayWorld, the Assembly Fringe will be running shows in the Assembly Rooms this year from July onwards.

Burdett-Coutts told Chortle.co.uk, "I think it [Assembly Fringe's branding] is rather disingenuous and confusing for the public. In my opinion, he [Assembly Fringe/The Stand director Tommy Sheppard] should declare his company is working at the Assembly Rooms – for example, calling it The Stand at the Assembly Rooms –  otherwise it is an attempt at passing off."

Sheppard has maintained that it would be inappropriate to link his two companies, as less than half of the programme at the Assembly will be comedy shows.

The programme will include Stewart Lee, Camille O’Sullivan, Scots Makar Liz Lochhead, Greg Hemphill, Les Dennis, Arabella Weir, Jan Ravens and Mike McShane.

"For 225 years the Assembly Rooms have been entertaining Edinburgh, and since it began in 1947 we’ve been at the heart of the festival. Now we begin a new chapter and it’s going to be even more exciting than before," said Sheppard.

Tickets for some of the shows are already on sale at http://www.arfringe.com

Read the Chortle article here

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