THE Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has returned to Edinburgh Castle for its 66th year, with more than 1,200 performers set to thrill crowds with an ‘East meets West’ themed show.

More than 220,000 visitors will descend on Edinburgh over the 20 days of performances. The BBC will also be recording for a few days, to transmit the awesome display of dance and music to an audience of 100 million people worldwide.

ABOUT THE TATTOO

FEW of the 6,000 hardy souls who crowded on to wooden benches in makeshift stands on the famous esplanade in 1950 could have predicted the worldwide phenomenon that the Tattoo would become.

Fourteen million people have witnessed performers from 48 countries since the event began, with this year’s display set to sell out for the 17th consecutive year.

Only about one-third of these spectators come from Scotland; the bulk of the audience is drawn from the rest of the UK and further afield, making a massive contribution to the local and national economy. This contribution is estimated at over £50 million annually, with 70 per cent of visitors citing the Tattoo as the reason for their visit to Scotland, according to organisers.

Incredibly, the event has never been cancelled, in defiance of the notoriously unpredictable Scottish weather. This fact is held up as a mark of consistent excellence by organisers, cementing its status not just as a Scottish institution but as an international cultural event.

The “East meets West” connection is also represented in the logistics of the event – every year, almost 40 miles of cabling are used, the equivalent of the distance from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

HISTORY

THE famous stands – based on the 1972 Olympic stadium in Munich – were replaced in 2010 after 37 years of service. The £16 million venue which houses the crowds today was funded by a mixture of private and public backers, including the Scottish Government through their Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.

The event was first screened in colour in 1968. Two years before, legendary actor Tom Fleming provided the voiceover for the BBC’s coverage for the first time. He would go on to be the instantly recognisable voice of the Tattoo for another 43 years, before his death at the age of 82 in 2010.

Scotland’s premier military display has gradually transformed into an iconic event through decades of exposure on television. Viewers around the globe have developed a deep association with the Tattoo, and Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand in particular boast swathes of dedicated viewers. Recordings of the event are a regular fixture of New Year celebrations in many countries.

The programme each year is geared towards a certain theme. Themes of years gone by have included family, nature and homecoming. This year’s display is based on the meeting of traditional western bands with elements of eastern culture.

This year’s show continued a tradition established in 2008 with more than 600 performers wowing locals at Glasgow’s George Square in a free display to launch the Tattoo on Tuesday.

Glasgow provost Sadie Docherty received the salute of a diverse group of performers at George Square, with dancers and musicians from China, the US, India and Switzerland displaying highlights from their Tattoo performances.

Glasgow has been an active part of the festivities since 2008, when organisers decided to take the Tattoo to the west of Scotland to boost the public profile of the event and raise funds for new infrastructure.

WHAT’S THE PROGRAMME?

BLINK and you’ll miss the Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland. Famous for their lightning-fast drumming, this year’s display features groundbreaking special effects and pyrotechnics.

The Changxing Lotus Dragon Dance Folklore Group make their festival debut this year, presenting the story of a popular Chinese legend of a dragon which rises from the water to bless people with prosperity and a bountiful harvest.

Also pitching up on the castle esplanade for the first time is the US Air Force Honour Drill display team from California with a disciplined and precise display in the traditional Tattoo style. The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes are representing the US for the 3rd time, the first and only military college band to do so.

Some of the more exotic elements of the show include a Bollywood Love Story, performed by a selection of dancers from Teamwork Arts, a Delhi production company, along with some of Scotland’s most talented Asian dancers.

China’s People’s Liberation Army also have a presence in the shape of their highly acclaimed military band. Their visit comes as part of the Year of Cultural Exchange which is currently operating between the UK and China.

Homage will also be paid to the RAF as a special Battle of Britain segment takes centre stage in the programme. Air Force bands will march alongside the Queen’s Colour Squadron to deliver a stirring rendition of some famous military tunes, in the midst of a spectacular special effects display.

The world-renowned Massed Pipes and Drums deliver their usual display of musical excellence. They encapsulate the popular image of the Tattoo, with about 250 performers parading around the castle esplanade in a colourful cacophony of sights and sounds.

WHO’S BEHIND IT?

BRIGADIER David Allfrey returns as the chief executive and producer of the show for the fifth year. He says this year’s “remarkable” show will introduce the audience to dynamic new performing troupes as well as old favourites.

The Scottish Government will also continue their backing of the event, with its financial contribution justified by the Tattoo’s capacity to boost not just Edinburgh’s thriving tourist industry, but the Scottish economy as a whole.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place until August 29 at Edinburgh Castle. Showings are Monday-Friday 9pm; Saturday 7.30pm and 10.30pm; no showings Sunday.