The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo combines military spectacle, cultural performance, vibrant music and international colour – all in a historic Scottish setting.
This year’s 66th production (August 7 – 29) is set to be more breath-taking than ever.
Ticket sales are expected to hit record heights as 220,000 people come to Edinburgh during the 3-week pageant.
This summer’s ‘East Meets West’ theme celebrates the richness of international culture and the creative spirit of human endeavour.
Among an array of VIP salute takers across the 25 performances, and fresh from her trip to China, Scotland’s First Minister will attend the August run.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: “Once again The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will place Scotland on the world stage, showcasing our rich cultural heritage to thousands of people across the world.
“Through Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, we are pleased to support The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s collaboration with The Edinburgh Mela to bring Bollywood to the esplanade this August.
“These dancers will be a great addition to the performers from Australia, United States, Canada and New Zealand that make The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo a global event.
“Scotland looks forward to welcoming people from across the world to celebrate the music and entertainment that’s on offer.”
Chief Executive & Producer, Brigadier David Allfrey said: “This year’s show is remarkable in so many ways.
“It is bringing together some traditional allies and some new friends. The performance is set to illustrate that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
“Some acts have taken a number of years to secure and we are delighted that a huge cast has come together from across the world, so elegantly, and with such a sense of common purpose.”
“The Tattoo is much more than a show. It delivers tangible benefits in Defence, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Tourism and Culture, Heritage and the Arts.
“The event also generates more than £100 million for the Scottish economy and supports, in large measure, Services and Arts charitable causes each year,” he continued.
With over 1,200 performers, 140 Chinese entertainers, 50 Bollywood dancers and one or two other surprises, the show is set to present a fertile fusion of military and cultural talent from around the globe.
Swiss ‘Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel’ are bringing a newly developed act to Edinburgh with their own special brand of energetic percussion and pyrotechnics.
The Producer remarked: “Top Secret are already a firm favourite but they are set to perform faster than ever this year.
“I watched them in performance in Basel just two weeks ago and…they were phenomenal!”
The Tattoo’s organisers have scoured the world to gather a cosmopolitan cast of top-class international performers for the 2015 production.
Performers are coming from all over: Europe, America, Asia, Australasia and Canada.
They will share the stage with British Armed Forces performers and musicians who will among other features mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
This year’s show opens with a specially written ‘East Meets West’ fanfare, composed and by the Tattoo’s Principal Arranger Michael McDermott.
Brigadier Allfrey remarked: “With such history, great music, talented musicians and performers on such a scale, all supported by extraordinary lighting, fabulous technical and administrative support and an incomparable parade ground in front of an ancient castle…our cup is overflowing. We are so lucky!”
Making a first visit to Edinburgh, the impressive Changxing Lotus Dragon Dance Folklore Group will tell a story – through dance and music – of a great dragon emerging from a pond covered in lotus flowers.
The legend has been presented in China for many years to help promote the prospect of good crops and wider prosperity.
The Dragon Dancers are joined by other Tattoo first-timers, the United States Air Force Honour Guard, marking the ‘special relationship’ between the US and the UK, with a display of precision drill.
In a major ‘Battle of Britain’ programme, the Massed Bands of the Royal Air Force with the Queens Colour Squadron will add their own pomp and ceremony, showing off their respective musical and drill skills in a meticulous combined display.
Under the direction of Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, RAF Principal Director of Music and 2015 Tattoo Director of Music, the Bands’ repertoire will include favourite tunes such as ‘Aces High’ and ‘Battle of Britain March’ framed by a special effects sequence.
Amongst all the acts recruited and brought together for this year, the perennial highlight remains the traditional march across Edinburgh Castle drawbridge by the Massed Pipes & Drums.
Brigadier Allfrey said: “The Pipes and Drums are special. Everyone waits for their moment and you can feel the sense of expectation across the stands. We have added an extra set again this year and are bringing the pipers together with dancers, fiddle players, traditional instruments and Gaelic song. It is stunning!”
“We are particularly proud to present ‘The Pipers Trail’ again with a composite international pipes and drums drawn from the piping family on several continents. They have their own tartan and their own style”
