On 7th August 2020, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is paying homage to its incredible audiences, performers and staff on what would have been the show’s opening weekend with a specially created tribute, to be released at 7pm on the Tattoo’s social channels.
After 70 years, the Tattoo has grown from having a largely local audience of 100,000, to seating 220,000 – including international guests from over 100 countries – on the esplanade throughout August. This year is a joint celebration as it also marks the 70th birthday of HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of the Tattoo.
From humble beginnings – inspired by a simple show called ‘Something About a Soldier’ performed in 1949 at the Ross Bandstand, Lieutenant Colonel George Malcolm was the first Producer of The Edinburgh Tattoo with the ambition of bringing the Army’s contribution to the Edinburgh International Festival to life.
From a modest event in a park to today’s globally recognised spectacular on the Castle Esplanade, the mixed military and cultural cast is now drawn from far and wide and audience following continues to grow year on year.
Buster Howes, CEO of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “I’m immensely proud to have recently taken the reigns of this iconic show. The audiences we welcome year on year are hugely important to us and we want to acknowledge the continued support on what should have been the opening night of our 70th anniversary show.
“Despite the very difficult circumstances, we’re working hard to find imaginative and creative ways to bring you flavours of the Show that you know and love.
“2020 will be remembered as a year of hardship and uncertainty, but it also a marks our historic platinum anniversary, and throughout August we will be delving into our archives to share some of our best moments, speaking to the people who make this amazing show what it is, and dusting off our instruments and dancing shoes to celebrate in the only way we know how – watch this space!”
The home of the Tattoo, Edinburgh Castle, will also take part in the Edinburgh Festivals light show, My Light Shines On and some famous faces from the show will also feature in the specially commissioned film celebrating all of the Edinburgh Festivals which will air on BBC Scotland on Saturday night (8th August).
