Tag: Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Big Secret Finally Revealed

– The Top Secret Drum Corps set for return to Castle Esplanade this summer following a week of classified activity for the big announcement –

Swiss drumming sensation, The Top Secret Drum Corps, has been revealed as the first confirmed international act to take to the Castle Esplanade when The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – one of the world’s best known military spectaculars – makes its highly anticipated return this summer.

The iconic drummers will wow fans with their dynamic precision drumming showcase, which has received global recognition since first performing in the Show back in 2003.

Today’s announcement follows a week of ‘Top Secret’ activity from the Tattoo which drove intrigue in Edinburgh and right across the country. A ‘secret agent’ guard took to the streets of the capital with a VIP suitcase containing the highly classified first act details.

Passers-by had the opportunity to crack the code and win tickets by scanning an exclusive QR code which unveiled the Act in morse code. The code was also played on radio across the country and listeners had their chance to guess what it meant.

The Top Secret Drum Corps was founded in 1991 by seven young drummers who wanted to preserve Basel’s rich drumming heritage and began mixing the traditional style of drumming with other drum types and striking visual effects.

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 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite, said: “We can’t wait to make our triumphant return this year and I’m thrilled that The Top Secret Drum Corps will be front and centre when we do so.

“They are one of the most dazzling drumming acts in the world and their sensational performance will light up what’s sure to be another incredible spectacular throughout August.

“Whether you’re excited to return to the esplanade or keen to experience the Tattoo for the first time, I’d urge people across the country to get their tickets and get set to be wowed by the show.

“It was great to see the buzz on the streets of Edinburgh today as we got ready for the big reveal. Excitement is undoubtedly building ahead of summer, so I’d encourage all Tattoo fans to keep their eyes and ears peeled as there is so much more to come, and we’ll be revealing all about this year’s production very soon.”

Top Secret’s drummers play in an upbeat and playful style, with sections of their routine featuring drumstick juggling, exploding flagpoles and a drummer’s duel to wow audiences.

The year’s Tattoo performance will celebrate people across the globe who, despite physical separation, continue to connect and share their voices creatively through spoken word, song, writing, music and dance – languages common to all.

Military acts will continue to play a central role in this year’s performance, with the Army confirmed as the lead service in 2022.

As well as the talents of The Top Secret Drum Corps, audiences this year will also enjoy the legendary sound of the Massed Pipes and Drums that will echo around the Esplanade as part of Voices, supported by Tattoo pipers and drummers, and musicians from UK Military Regiments. 

The Tattoo dancers and Tattoo fiddlers also join the line-up, with international acts and further details about Voices announced in the coming months.

Tattoo unveils ‘Voices’ show theme as 2022 tickets go on sale

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will celebrate the power of connection with a spectacular combination of music, dance and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers, as it makes its return to the Castle Esplanade in 2022 with a new show titled Voices.

Tickets for the iconic military spectacle go on sale from 1 December 2021, with the show running from 5 – 27 August 2022.

The show is the first from the Tattoo’s new Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite. It draws inspiration from people across the globe who, despite physical separation, continue to connect and share their voices creatively through spoken word, song, writing, music and dance – languages common to all.

Military acts continue to play a central role in the performance, with the Army confirmed as the lead service in 2022. Audiences will enjoy the legendary sound of the Massed Pipes and Drums that will echo around the Esplanade as part of Voices, supported by Tattoo pipers and drummers, and musicians from UK Military Regiments.  The Tattoo dancers and Shetland fiddlers also join the line-up, with international acts and further details about Voices announced in the coming months.

Tattoo Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite

Tattoo Creative Director, Michael Braithwaite, says: “Through the challenges and separation of the last two years, people of every culture have used their voices to remain connected. These voices can be found in many ways – the piper through music, the dancer with movement, the poet through words and the drummer with a beat.

“Voices is our desire to make next year’s Tattoo not just a reunion, but a celebration of the connections, cultures and languages that bring us together at the unique setting of Edinburgh Castle.

“I’m hugely excited to play a part in the history and spectacle of the Tattoo, helping it return to the global stage, re-energised and invigorated for a new era.”

Voices is the first show under the Tattoo’s bold new brand proposition, Performance in a New Light. It embraces all the military tradition the Tattoo is known and loved for, while combining exciting new innovations in production effects, lighting and staging, along with world-class appointments to the creative team.

Tickets for next year’s Tattoo can be purchased from 10am on 1st December online at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo ready to deliver Performance in a New Light

The Tattoo reveals a ‘refreshed brand approach’ ahead of the Show’s return with senior hires, new creative direction and increased investment


Performance in a New Light encapsulates changes the Tattoo has undertaken over several months of planning and preparation, and includes the introduction of a new ticketing system, fresh membership packages and increased investment into creative elements of the Show, including new lighting, projection and staging.

The new ticket platform, in partnership with SecuTix, will include mobile ticketing for the first time and a new digital view finder that allows guests to choose their seats with a virtual, 360-degree panoramic view of the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.

Similarly, a new agreement with Woodroffe Basset Design will deliver the latest in cutting edge lighting design and bring a fresh feel to the Tattoo performance, allowing newly appointed Creative Director Michael Braithwaite to produce a more emotionally charged performance than ever before.

Audiences will also have access to a range of new membership packages, designed to enable fans to keep up to date with the Tattoo through exclusive content and access all year round – including an early bird booking window, retail offers and members only events.

To support the new brand direction, the Tattoo has appointed several senior managers and new Board Members:

Chief Executive Buster Howes and Creative Director Michael Braithwaite are joined by Jason Barrett, who takes on the role of Chief Operating Officer, while Andrew Kerr OBE, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Tricia Bey, founder of Barwheys Dairy, Chris Edmonds, Chair and UK Executive Vice President of Ticketmaster and Lee Roberts, Managing Director of Canvas Partnerships, join the Board.

Chief Executive, Buster Howes, said: “Performance in a New Light marks a new era for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and I greatly look forward to the hard work of the past many months finally finding tangible and musical expression in the Show in 2022.

“We have, whilst the Esplanade has been dark, set out to reinvigorate who and what we are, and to develop a fresh, bold and dynamic brand that will deliver an even more thrilling event for our audiences.

“Whilst preserving that which makes the Tattoo iconic and unique, we will be increasingly innovative with the Show; we are investing more in its production and have recruited new Board members and world-class appointments to our Management team to imaginatively enable these exciting developments.”

Chairman, Peter Lederer, said: “This is a bold, refreshed approach for the Tattoo as we all look ahead to the Show’s return next summer.

“I’m very proud of the resilience and creativity shown by the whole team as we bounce back from the challenges of the Pandemic and help to play our part in the recovery of the wider live events industry.

“The increased investment in production, and enhancements to both the senior team and the Board, underpin an increasingly innovative and creative ethos, which will surely find expression in a Show to surprise and delight both established and new audiences in 2022 and beyond.”

While the annual Show will continue to have distinct themes, the Tattoo brand will focus on delivering Performance in a New Light year on year as part of its new, long-term vision.

More information on the membership packages can be found here:

edintattoo.co.uk/membership

Hogmanay Heights

Edinburgh Castle to become student accommodation and will double as exclusive holiday lets

There has been a furious reaction to news that Edinburgh Castle has been sold – and will be converted into top of the range student accommodation.

The city council says the sale will do much to change the capital’s old-fashioned image but heritage groups say the sale of the castle is an act of barbarism

Glen Morangie, marketing director of Historic Environment Edinburgh, confirmed: “The decision was a no brainer. The building has been lying idle for over a year and it’s beginning to show it’s age.

“The city council has ambitious plans for the city centre so we have decided that now is the time to think outside the box and jump on the bandwagon. Make no mistake, this plan is a win, win.

“The building, which will be renamed Hogmanay Heights, will be converted into as many student flats as we can legally get away with – and as a major plus we have negotiated a deal with the city council to take over Princes Street Gardens.

“The gardens will be coverted into a huge drying space – which we’ll call The Back Green – to enable students to dry their laundry. This is to compensate for the lack of space in the flats – to be honest you won’t be able to swing a cat in them, but students don’t really care about that sort of thing. Laundry, I mean.”

Essential Edinburgh also has plans for Hogmanay Heights during the summer and winter breaks.

Mr Morangie continued: “We’ll send the students packing at end of term, give the flats a quick spruce up and let them out – at exhorbitant rates – to tourists. Visitors to Edinburgh are used to being ripped off so they’ll lap it up – it’s all part of the unique Edinburgh experience!”

Rupert Morningside-Merchiston, a ‘change champion’ consultant for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “There are exciting times ahead in the capital. After a year of pandemic misery this is just the tonic that the citizens of Edinburgh want and need – not that we’ve asked them, of course.

“Rest assured, the city centre will be transformed. The boring old fuddy-duddy stuff will be gone for ever – the trees, the flowers and the statues will be replaced with line after line of crisp clean laundry blowing in the breeze. Auld Reekie no more: and Edinburgh – sponsored by Persil – will lead the way once again.”

The Esplanade will become a massive bicycle shed, which causes a major problem for the organisers of Edinburgh’s world famous Tattoo.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Pipe Major Ruaridh Bannockburn said: “Of course we’ll miss Edinburgh Castle but times are changing, everyone’s cutting back and shows of miltary might ain’t what they used to be.

“Oddly enough, our very first Tattoo was a small event staged at the Ross Bandstand back in 1949, and it seems that we must now go back to our roots and stage a drastically scaled down Tattoo once again.

“With Underbelly’s permission we will be performing ‘Twa’ Pipers Ana’, Ana’ in a phonebox near the Ross Bandstand this August. Buy your tickets now, but remember to bring your own seat – the prices Underbelly charge are eye-watering!”

Archie Brunstane-Bingham, chairman of the Old Town Preservation Society, was unavailable for comment. It’s understood he’s moved to Glasgow.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo welcomes India’s Navy Chief

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has celebrated its strong international ties by welcoming the Republic of India’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba to Edinburgh and to the castle home of the world-famous military extravaganza. Continue reading The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo welcomes India’s Navy Chief

The Sky’s the Limit: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo goes to China

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo successfully concluded its first venture into China this week, an early step forward for the event since announcing its international growth plans, and a clear demonstration of its bold commitment to reach an audience of one billion people and to double turnover to £20 million by 2025. Continue reading The Sky’s the Limit: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo goes to China

Sky’s the limit for defence personnel taking part in Edinburgh Tattoo

Hundreds of defence personnel will celebrate the power of human potential at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, taking place from 3 to 25 August. The RAF will be the lead presentational service, in its centenary year, for a new show marking the theme of ‘The Sky’s the Limit’. Continue reading Sky’s the limit for defence personnel taking part in Edinburgh Tattoo

Tattoo Culture Fund cash for North Edinburgh project

tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and City of Edinburgh Council have announced the latest  beneficiaries of the city’s Culture Fund. Among them is North Edinburgh Arts, who receive £5000 to work in a new collaboration with Magnetic North to develop a new piece of family music-theatre.

Continue reading Tattoo Culture Fund cash for North Edinburgh project