Tickets And Hotel Packages To The 60th Edinburgh Tattoo

The 60th Edinburgh Tattoo
7th - 29th August 2009

The word "tattoo" originally dates from the eighteenth century, when British Army units were stationed in Flanders during the War of the Austrian Succession. Drummers from the garrison were sent out into the towns each evening to Beat Retreat, summoning the soldiers to return to barracks for the night. The process was known as Doe den tap toe or just tap toe and encouraged the inn keepers to "turn off the taps": stop serving beer and send the soldiers back for the night.

The first official Tattoo began in 1950 with just 8 items in the programme. There were no stands for spectators; now for three weeks in August 9000 people climb the cobbled stones of the Royal Mile each evening to see it.

With over 1,000 performers, featuring Tongan musicians, an all-male Canadian choir, the Indian Navy, as well as entertainers from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, the Tattoo is set to present a compelling mix of music, ceremony, and theatre, while continuing to showcase the very best of Scottish culture.

Indeed, 2009 sees Scotland's showpiece military tattoo paying tribute to the 250th anniversary of the birth of the country's national bard, Robert Burns, and playing its part in Scotland's first ever year of Homecoming.

Tattoo Chief Executive & Producer, Major General Euan Loudon, said: "We are delighted to be part of next year's important celebration of Scotland's culture and heritage, when we plan to stage four exclusive extra Tattoo performances outside Edinburgh to mark this special Year of Homecoming."

And, as 2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, a feature of next year's show will be a series of vignettes depicting episodes from the popular poet's works. This includes an extract of one of the finest examples of his craft, 'Tam O'Shanter', which will celebrate the legacy of this literary legend in poetry and dance.

Next summer's colourful production will also include contributions from Switzerland's premier military band, the Central Band of the Swiss Army, in their first appearance at the Edinburgh Tattoo, the Massed Bands of the Royal Air Force, who previously performed at the 2004 Tattoo, and a 50-strong Australian Highland Dance troupe who will come together with the Tattoo's own Highland Spring Dancers.

Firm audience favourites, the (now not-so-secret) Top Secret Drum Corps from the Swiss city of Basel will, by popular demand, make a welcome return to the Scottish Capital for next year's 60th Edinburgh Tattoo (7-29 August) and its three-week season on the floodlit Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.

Fusing furiously fast and exceptionally precise percussion with clockwork precision visual effects, this 30-strong group is once again expected to drum its way in to the hearts of an anticipated 217,000 Tattoo-goers.

Tickets and hotel packages available now.