Edinburgh military show that seeks global harmony
WHA’S LIKE US? This week:
BEHOLD the Scots: wee pawky fechters of martial legend, putting the fear of God into Britland’s enemies with their swirling bagpipes and lack of trousers.
I’m guessing the original Edinburgh Military Tattoo had its origins in celebrating this, or at least the cultural side, with bagpipe music and perhaps some synchronised stoating aboot – if there was space.
For that first year, 1949, “Something About A Soldier”, forerunner of the big Tattoo, took place in the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, beneath Edinburgh Castle’s stern grey walls.
The idea was to put some Army discipline into the Edinburgh International Arts Festival, launched in 1947, so perhaps the current Tattoo, combining traditional Scots military swagger with increasingly outré elements, has not strayed so far from its roots as you might think: “We will now explore Scotland’s martial history and military prowess … through the medium of dance!”
Though, for many years, the show mainly featured military acts, around 1995 it began to “diversify” – klaxon alert! – and present civilian performance, reaching a new low in 2003 when the music of Westlife was featured.
Despite some initial resistance from fuddies, and outright revolt by duddies, the inclusion of civilian acts has increased over the years, with cheerleaders, acrobats and whatnot strutting and tumbling hither and yon. One popular act has been the Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel – not a military organisation. Among the first non-Commonwealth acts to perform, its routines have included a rumba, drumstick juggling and, as you would expect, exploding flagpoles.
Mock the Reekie?
IT’S easy to mock this sort of thing. So let’s do that. Naw. Only kidding.
The Tattoo is a spectacle, a show, nothing to get hung about. Young dancers get the opportunity of a lifetime to perform on a spectacular stage: Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. The Tattoo is also run for charity so, even if sojers mincing aboot doesn’t float your boat, good causes benefit. Outdoor events in darkness – particularly towards the end of the month – are always fun and kinda cosy, too, though as usual you must dive deep into your pockets for a ticket.
You know how greetin’-faced I get about the price of entertainment today. Tattoo ticket prices range from £30 for relatively well-adjusted people to £640 – “plus booking fee” – for mental cases. The latter appear to buy “Royal Gallery” seats and “hospitality”, perhaps a wee bridie.
That said, this year, the Tattoo “gave back” to the oppressed citizens of Edinburgh and environs with a 25% discount for locals among the first 1,000 ticket-buyers. In addition, since 2004, free “Taste of the Tattoo” abridged performances have been offered at the aforementioned Ross Bandstand.
More daringly, since 2008, the organisers have brought snippets from the Edinburgh extravaganza to George Square, trying to interest Glaswegians in visiting the much-derided capital of their country.
Return to Oz
THE Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to give it its full name (the “Royal” was bestowed in 2010 by HMQ Elizabeth to celebrate its 60th birthday) has also visited New Zealand and Australia several times.
Plans to take the show to the Nutter Republic of China in 2020 were abandoned due to yon Covid.
Despite the ticket prices, an estimated 220,000 people attend the Tattoo each year (8,800 a night). Before the pandemic cancellations of 2020 and 2021, the Tattoo sold out for 22 consecutive seasons. Ticket sales indicate 30% of the audience coming from Scotland, 32% from the rest of the UK, and 38% from even more peculiar places abroad. This year’s Tattoo started on Friday and continues until August 27, with performances every weekday evening and twice on Saturdays.
The Tattoo has never been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Each year has a new theme: 2016 was “Tunes of Glory”, celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday; 2017 was “A Splash of Tartan”; 2018 “The Sky’s the Limit”, referencing the Moon landings and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force; 2019 “Kaleidoscope” celebrating, er, swirly lights.
The event seems to be getting more abstract, with this year’s theme, Voices, verging on the woke. Returning after Covid, it celebrates “the power of connection” – ken? – between people across yonder globe. Despite physical separation, they “continue to connect and share their voices creatively through spoken word, song, writing, music and dance”. I see.
Fighting tunes
WHAT about all the fighting? Well, military acts continue to play a central role, it says here, along with the dancing
The event seems to be getting more abstract, with this year’s theme, Voices, verging on the woke. Returning after Covid, it celebrates ‘the power of connection’ – ken? – between people across yonder globe
and the fiddling. Last year, the Tattoo’s chief executive, Major General Buster Howes, vowed to shed the event’s “tartan and shortbread” image to attract – surprise me – a younger audience. Yawnorama. That old route to disaster.
Noteworthy ages
MAJ Gen Howes was vexed by the audience having an average age of 54 – virtually dead – and hoped a revamped show would interest younger generations with shorter attention spans.
He said of the show: “It had become too long and we had become slightly in love with our own proposition.” Never fall in love with your own proposition, readers. Can cause serious neck problems.
He went on: “We want to make it a lot punchier. Attention spans are a lot shorter than 10 years ago.
“The start of the show will be a lot more impactful. It previously took a long time for the show to begin, and there was a lot of flummery with senior people arriving and red carpets.”
The Maj Gen added: “We don’t want to subvert the brand or turn the Tattoo into a Kylie Minogue show.”
This referred to a controversial performance in 2019 on the Esplanade by the Australian Army’s 5th Kylie Minogue Dragoons. Still, there are some good ideas there, apart from the young people stuff and the disgraceful anti-shortbread prejudice.
The Tattoo even has a mission statement – yay, ain’t seen one of these fluff-puffs for years – which says: “Our vision is underpinned by our three values: Creativity, Connection and Contribution.” Probably could have found more if they’d looked beyond C.
“Creativity is our lifeblood,” the statement goes on. “We are global citizens with a special ability to bring people together on a local, national, and international scale.” Are ye, aye? How far the Tattoo has come from its military origins. Good thing? Bad thing?