Hogmanay party to be ‘cross between carnival, show and an opening ceremony’
● Organisers bring key figure from Olympics team
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay party is to be turned into a sixhour street carnival after new organisers called in one of the key figures involved in the spectacular ceremonies at the London Olympics.
Street performers, dancers, acrobats, fire-eaters and flash mobs will be introduced to the event for the first time under a major shake-up of the worldfamous celebrations.
The party is to be extended by an extra two hours and the midnight fireworks display will run for nine minutes, rather than five in a bid to step up competition with rival displays in the likes of Sydney, Hong Kong and New York.
Ticketholders will be urged to arrive in the event arena as early as 7pm to watch entertainers on podium stages, on balconies and in windows.
Still Game star Sanjeev Kohli has been lined up as an official “Hogmanay Host”, who will appear on giant screens throughout the arena to help welcome revellers to the city.
A series of surprise “communal moments” are also planned to unite the 60,000 revellers on Princes Street. The revamp has been unveiled by Underbelly, the long-time Fringe promoters who have won a three-year contract to take over the celebrations from producers Unique Events.
Underbelly, which launched ticket sales yesterday, has drafted in the head of ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics to help advise on a complete “reboot” of the street party aimed at “creating distance” between Edinburgh and its overseas competitors.
The company unveiled Martin Green, who is currently overseeing Hull’s UK City of Culture programme and masterminded the Tour de France’s visit to Yorkshire, as their executive producer for the next three years.
Mr Green, who has also previously masterminded the London Eye fireworks, said he found the offer to work on Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations “irresistible” after years of attending the Fringe.
Underbelly, which already runs the Pride parade in London, has vowed that Edinburgh’s festivities will be “recreated, refreshed and reenergised” in their 25th year.
Underbelly director Ed Bartlam said: “We obviously have huge experience of running big live events, but for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay we wanted to bring in someone who has got some great ideas and contacts.
“We are putting together a proper creative team to recreate, refresh and re-energise the street party. Martin’s background is big outdoor events.
“He was essentially the guy who commissioned Danny Boyle to do the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.
“It really is a big reboot of the street party. Along with Martin, we have thought long and hard about how to make the event a genuine party and a real show for the entire street, not just for the people who are next to one of the stages.” He added: “It’s going to be a cross between a carnival, a show and an opening ceremony.”
Mr Green said: “The chance to be anywhere near a project around Hogmanay and Scotland was irresistible. This is one of the greatest events in the world.
“There is always a danger with an event when a new team comes in. I was at the event last year and I feel it has lots of inherent potential that can be brought out for the better of it.”