Back for 2022
We had such a fantastic time being part of the City of Culture celebrations in Coventry in the summer of 2021 we’re returning this April for an encore. With a brand new programme of some of the most exciting theatre, comedy, circus, children’s shows, music and more we can’t wait to welcome you back to the Festival Garden.
What happened in 2021
Since opening in July 2021, the pop-up space on the site of the former civic centre buildings has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors.
It’s played host to some of the biggest names in music, comedy, circus and more, including the English premiere of Choir of Man, the return of international artists with the spectacular Circolombia, as well as one-off performances from star of The Specials, Neville Staple, Nish Kumar, Rob Beckett and hometown favourite Hazel O’Connor.
The Garden has also been the place to catch some of the summer’s biggest events on the big screen, including the UEFA Men’s European Football Championships final, Ed Sheeran’s exclusive performance at Coventry’s HMV Empire and the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms which saw the city take centre stage in the national television celebrations.
Perennial favourites including Coventry Pride and Motofest called the Garden home this summer in addition to hosting the University’s freshers’ ball.
It’s proved a big hit with locals and visitors alike, with 90% describing their experience as good, very good or excellent and 81% saying the Garden has improved their perception of the city.
We’ve been touched by many of the kind words shared by visitors including:
“The atmosphere generated by the performers was engaging – the audience thoroughly enjoyed the experience… it was a big hit! Made this old Coventrian very proud of his city.”
“A wonderful choice of shows for all ages and interests. I am a wheelchair user and found access very good and the staff very helpful.”
About Assembly Festival
We cut our teeth at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and are one of the longest-running and most prestigious of the multi-space venues. For more than four decades we have welcomed thousands or artists onto the Assembly stages and many of the household names you know and love started their journey to stardom on our boards including Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand, Bill Bailey and Sandi Toksvig to name a few.
In addition to our Edinburgh roots, we were honoured to be invited to become part of Coventry’s UK City of Culture celebrations with a new pop up Festival Garden in the heart of the city centre. After a spectacular summer in 2021, we are delighted to return for an encore season from spring 2022.
We are also a leading production company in our own right most recently with Robert Bathurst’s Love, Loss and Chianti and Simon Callow’s A Christmas Carol. We are particularly proud of Nirbhaya, a play that tackled the challenging subject of violence against women in India and went on to play to sell-out houses in the UK, US and Canada.
Find out more about what we do at assemblyfestival.com
About Coventry City of Culture 2021
Coventry is the city where movement began, from innovation in the transport industry to a history of activism. Our city has moved people for centuries.
For a whole year, Coventry City of Culture Trust will celebrate the city with events, music, dance, theatre, and large-scale spectacle. As well as these big celebrations, the city will show its unexpected side, with more intimate experiences and ways to get involved across every ward.
Coventry City of Culture Trust was established as a charity in February 2016 and was responsible for submitting the city’s success UK City of Culture 2021 bid and is now the delivery body for UK City of Culture events.
Find out more about the Coventry City of Culture Trust.