Tag: performance

Banda Monumental de Mexico set to spread their wings in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Mexican military band, Banda Monumental de Mexico, will be taking over the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade when they return with another show-stopping performance ‘Mexico Celebrates Life’ to this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August.

To mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, part of the performance will be dedicated to Her Majesty and Duke of Edinburgh with a special Monarch butterfly wing costume created in her honour. 

Julieta Huerta Aviles, one of the youngest dancers in Banda Monumental de Mexico, was the driving force behind the idea to include the beautiful butterfly wing costumes in this year’s showcase.

Her inspiration is a famous photograph taken of the late Duke of Edinburgh watching the Monarch Butterfly’s migration on a trip to Mexico in 1988 – part of a trip he attended to support a Mexican conservation group whose aim was to protect the Monarch Butterfly from serious threats to the species’ survival. 

Julieta Huerta Aviles, performer with Banda Monumental de Mexico said: “The opportunity to share our country’s music and culture with so many people at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a real privilege. 

“The photograph of Prince Philip with the Monarch butterflies is incredibly beautiful and with it being The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year, it felt only right that part of our performance and costume honoured both of them in a special way. I am so excited to perform at the Tattoo and I can’t wait to see the costumes take centre stage.” 

In 2010, the Tattoo was presented with the official Royal Commemoration by Her Majesty to mark the organisations 60th anniversary and has since been known as The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. As part of the Jubilee celebrations, over 50 Tattoo Dancers performed at ‘A Gallop Through History’ which took place at Windsor Castle.  

Michael Braithwaite, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Creative Director, said: “It’s such a thrill to have the dynamic and exciting Banda Monumental de Mexico return to the Tattoo this year. Our audience can expect an even bigger spectacle than before, and we can’t wait.  

“With the country celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year it’s wonderful to see the performers from Banda Monumental de Mexico pay tribute to both Her Majesty The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in such a poignant way, connecting back to their Mexican roots and culture. We’re excited to see the costumes dazzle in all their glory on the Esplanade.”  

All performers from Banda Monumental de Mexico reside from Tehuacán, a town in the state of Puebla which is famously known as the birthplace of many of the greatest musicians in Mexico.

The military band is made up of 120 members between the ages of 12 and 53. The band was formed exclusively for the 2018 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo by the Organizacion Cultural de Intercambios Internacionales México and saw more than 100 performers brought together proudly to share traditional Mariachi music. 

This year’s Tattoo theme is ‘Voices’ and the Show will represent the collective power and connection of voice through a spectacular combination of music, dance and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers as it returns with a bang this August 5 – 27.  

The Show will run from 5 – 27 August 2022. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188. 

LEITHERS LIVE tickets selling fast

Tickets for Citadel Arts Group’s Leith Festival show, LEITHERS LIVE, are now on sale and selling fast.

This site specific show, set around Leith Custom House, follows the indomitable Preston family from the 1300s to the present day.

Tickets £10/£8 from ftennick@hotmail.com or phone 01875 717 340.

StagEHd: Edinburgh’s Theatre Festival

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29 May
Ross Bandstand, Princes Street Gardens

StagEHd is a two day festival of theatre, celebrating the performing arts in Edinburgh.

Born out of a conversation about the commercialisation of Edinburgh’s public spaces, StagEHd is an open access, free-to-attend festival of theatre, featuring the best of Edinburgh’s independent, grassroots and community theatre companies.

The festival began partly as a response to the closure of the city’s arts spaces during the 2020 pandemic, by EGTG (Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group) in collaboration with other community theatre companies in the city, as an opportunity to showcase homegrown talent to a local audience.

Hidden Door Festival: 4 weeks to go!

We can’t believe that in just FOUR WEEKS we will be welcoming you to Hidden Door 2022!

For our team of volunteers, the festival build begins in the next few days so stay tuned for some exclusive behind-the-scenes previews.

For now, let’s take a closer look at our first Friday night … a night of wild pop and songs for the soul; late night electro in the Basement; ghostly dancers in the debating chamber; powerful theatre and beautiful spoken words echoing down the corridors; eclectic art around every corner; hot street food and sunny terrace bars with stunning city centre views …

See the full 12-hour Friday programme and book ticket

Gang Show auditions in Blackhall

CALLING ALL CUB SCOUTS AND BROWNIES!!

This is the incredible view the cast of the Edinburgh Gang Show 2022 will have in November!

We are looking for Cub Scouts from South East Scotland Scouts and Brownies from Girlguiding Edinburgh to make history and be part of the first Gang Show in the Festival Theatre.

For details about how to join the Junior Gang please visit: https://www.edinburghgangshow.co.uk/auditions/

Junior Gang Auditions

Sunday 26th June, Blackhall St Columba’s, Columba Road.

Brownies Cast 1 – Abercorn, Blackford, Braid, Harlaw & Pentland – 2.00pm – 3.00pm.

Brownies Cast 2 – Forth, Inveralmond, New Leith, Raeburn & Turnhouse – 2.45pm – 3.45pm. Cub Scouts – 3.30pm – 4.30pm.

Please ask your Section Leaders for more information.

Voices: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo showcase for 2022

This August, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will make its highly anticipated return with this year’s show, Voices. Staged on the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade between 5-27 August, the show will be a celebration of expression, giving a stage to performers and acts from around the globe to share their voice.

This year’s show is the first from the Tattoo’s new Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite, who along with new partners in production design, lighting, audio, costume, and projection will showcase his vision for Tattoo this year. 

Voices draws inspiration from people across the globe who, despite physical separation, continue to connect and share their voices creatively through spoken word, song, music, and dance – languages common to all.

Over 800 performers from across the globe will take part in in this year’s Tattoo, bringing with them incredible music, dance, and performance talents. There will be cultural showcases and musical presentations by performers from Mexico,

The United States, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand along with homegrown talent from the UK. Military acts will continue to play a central role in the performance, with the Army confirmed as the lead service this year.

Audiences can expect to hear the legendary sound of the Massed Pipes and Drums that will echo around the Esplanade as part of Voices, supported by Tattoo Pipes and Drums, Tattoo Dancers, Tattoo Fiddlers, and musicians from UK Military Regiments. 

Joining the already announced iconic The Top Secret Drum Corps, over 100 performers from the Banda Monumental de Mexico will return to the Esplanade this year bringing energetic, colourful carnival energy to the Show.

The renowned and incredibly talented Highland Divas will make their Tattoo debut this year, bringing their showstopping vocals to Voices. The crowd will be taken on an exhilarating musical journey showcasing the Divas’ eclectic repertoire including the Folk Music of Ireland, Scotland, and New Zealand.

Fan favourites New Zealand Army Band will also be part of the Tattoo’s triumphant return this summer. This will mark their seventh appearance, having last appeared at the Castle Esplanade in 2019, and audiences can once again expect an energetic performance that will dazzle and amaze.

Celebrated as the Musical Ambassadors of the Army, The United States Army Field Band will make their Tattoo debut this year, exciting and entertaining the crowd with a marching, military mash up of traditional and contemporary music.

While The United States Air Force Honor Guard, the official ceremonial unit of the Air Force, will make its return to the Tattoo this year with its dynamic display of precision drill.

Michael Braithwaite, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “This year, the Tattoo is inspired by people all over the world who have found a way to connect with each other through their creative voice and the Show will celebrate this expression by bringing together over 800 performers on Edinburgh Castle’s iconic Esplanade.  

“The team and I are working collaboratively with our new production partners and all the acts to ensure the key elements of the Voices theme run through everything from the lighting, costume design, projections and of course, the music and vocals. 

“For the very first time we will feature grand staging on the Esplanade, and we are taking a new approach to the pre-show segment with plans in place to enhance audience engagement and involvement further. For 2022, various voices within the Show will carry the story and intricate soundscapes have been produced to tie each of the performances together in an immersive experience for audiences.”

2022 will mark the first Show under The Tattoo’s bold new brand proposition, Performance in a New Light, which embraces military tradition and combines it with exciting new innovations and contemporary touches. 

Voices will ensure that the 2022 Tattoo is a welcome return and a celebration of the connections, cultures and languages that bring people together in the iconic Edinburgh Castle setting.

In 2023, the Tattoo will present Stories on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. A show curated to share the stories of the performers and acts from around the globe. While 2022 will give a voice to these acts through the theme Voices, 2023 will see this continued through storytelling elements. For the first time ever tickets for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will go on sale during the August run for the following year.

Buster Howes, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “2022 marks a new era for the Show, and I look forward to showcasing the spectacular themes, creative and the incredible talent of the acts that will feature in both Voices and Stories.

“With world-class talent being added to our Board, our internal team and our partner suppliers this year, the Show is taking a new, revigorated and creative direction which we know will produce a truly spectacular Show. The acts, as ever, will showcase a must-see spectacle that excites audiences with a blend of fresh and modern performances, with the traditional, military elements that its known and loved for.

“More than anything, we hope people from all walks of life can come together to experience Voices and the magic of the Tattoo.”

The full line up for 2022 also includes: The Royal Regiment of Scotland Band, British Army Band Colchester, British Army Band Sandhurst, The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, 2 SCOTS P&D, 3 SCOTS P&D, 4 SCOTS P&D, CUOTC P&D, RAF Pipes & Drums, The Crossed Swords Pipes and Drums, Brisbane Boys College, Paris Port Dover Pipes & Drums and City of Christchurch Pipes and Drums.

The Show will run from 5-27 August 2022.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.

Collective: H-E-L-L-O, a performance by Cauleen Smith

EVENT

Thursday 28 April 2022, 7pm

In-person event held at Collective

Free | No booking needed

Collective is delighted to host artist Cauleen Smith in Edinburgh to produce a new public performance, in association with her 2014 film H-E-L-L-O currently screening in our City Dome.

At the centre of H-E-L-L-O is John Williams’ famous five-note musical motif from Stephen Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Working with Collective’s unique landscape, architecture and backdrop, the artist’s specially devised performance will take place across Calton Hill and will feature five locally based musicians playing Williams’ score as a ‘call and response’ on their bass clef instruments.

The installation of Cauleen Smith’s film in our City Dome, which is screening until 15 May, brings the themes of H-E-L-L-O into conversation with her long-term interest in astronomy and coastal cities. The piece bears witness to the devastating impact and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and hones in on the damage that has been done to the long established African American community through the city’s eagerness to embrace regeneration.

Collective is situated in an exposed location on top of Calton Hill and this will be an outdoor performance, so please check the forecast and dress accordingly.

This is a free, drop-in event, no pre-booking needed.