| 20 July 2010
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo turns 60 this year, and Major General Euan Loudon promises it will be one of the most exciting and exhilarating shows yet.This year is the Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and it promises to be one of the most spectacular shows in the event’s sixty year history. The Tattoo’s Chief Executive and Producer, Major General Euan Loudon, tells us why Edinburgh Castle will be rocking all August.
How will the Tattoo mark its sixtieth birthday? We’re going to start with a big band performing six decades of music; beginning with Bill Haley or Chuck Berry from the Fifties and ending up with Take That or Westlife in the Noughties.
Our Director of Music has also written a new opening fanfare called Diamond Jubilee, while the director of army bagpipe music has written a new tune for the Massed Pipes and Drums, which reflects not only the Diamond Jubilee, but also the fact that on the 4th of January, the Queen very graciously bestowed a Royal title on us.
Will the show look back at previous Tattoos? To some degree. My first couple of Tattoos were entirely musical. They had no displays. This time, I thought it was important to remind ourselves that some of the displays were an absolutely critical part of the entertainment on the Esplanade.
The Imps motorcycle display team, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary, are coming back, as are the Army Physical Training Corps, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary.
They are doing a high horse display, which culminates in them diving through neon light hoops. It’s hard enough to do on level ground so I think performing it on a surface that has a 14 degree angle is posing them some challenges. I’m looking forward to watching their rehearsals.
What will be new to the show? The Polish military will be here for the first time ever. Given Scotland’s wartime connections with Poland, it has long been a personal ambition to deliver a Polish musical act to the Esplanade.
So, the representative band of the Polish Border Guard are coming for the first time. They wear rather swanky uniforms with capes and eagle feathers in their hats.
What are you personally looking forward to? The band of the Royal Army of Jordan are coming for only the second time in sixty years. I am looking forward to seeing them coming over the drawbridge of Edinburgh Castle. They will be led by a group of Bedouin soldiers mounted on horseback. That will fill the Esplanade with a sound and a sight that hasn’t been seen since 1963. The King of Jordan is taking the salute one night.
After this, how will you maintain interest for next year? Easily. In 2011 we will be unveiling the new stand and, hopefully, the opening season for the new stand will be seen as a bumper piece of entertainment as well. The new stand is one third bigger in terms of volume but has the same number of seats so there will be more space, better sight lines, better facilities and more comfort.
The 2010 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs 6-28 August with performances on Monday to Friday at 9.00pm and on Saturday at 7.30pm and 10.30pm. Tel: 0131 225 1188, www.edintattoo.co.uk
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