Tattoo fireworks finale scaled back in favour of 100 drones

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Synchronised drone displays have been introduced to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for the first time in its history to offer a 'pyrotechnic alternative' to the large-scale displays that have traditionally heralded the show's finale.
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And the loud bangs that echoed throughout the city during the three-week run have been largely replaced by the sound of silence.
A vastly-reduced number of "low-noise" fireworks are being used during the show's finale under a shake-up overseen by the event's new creative director.
The use of fireworks in the finale of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been significantly scaled back.
Alan Lane said the Tattoo, which was staged at the esplanade for the first time in 1950, was aware of its responsibilities to be 'good neighbours' in the city.
However he defended a decision to keep the Tattoo's long-running flypasts as part of the show, despite calls for them to be dropped due to their environmental impact, with Mr Lane insisting they are a key part of the event's identity.
Fireworks have been largely replaced by drone displays in the finale of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (Image: Jane Barlow/Press Association)
Around 100 drones are being used every night in the Tattoo to create a variety of images related to the show, including a thistle, the antlers of a stag, musical notes and the crescent of King Charles.
And the Tattoo has been confirmed they have led to a reduction in the use of fireworks in the finale.
The use of fireworks has been scaled back at this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (Image: Jane Barlow/Press Association)
Mr Lane told The Herald: 'We are aware of our responsibilities at the Tattoo.
'We have responsibilities to be good neighbours, we have a responsibility to be a responsible organisation, and responsibilities to our charities and to our audiences.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month. (Image: Jane Barlow/Press Association)
'With each show, we are balancing those responsibilities with as much care and attention as we can.
'As part of that, we have developed a pyrotechnic alternative to the traditional and much-loved fireworks so we can still deliver that sense of wow above the skyline of the castle every night with less of an impact that previous displays had."
Low-noise fireworks are being used in this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (Image: Ian Georgeson)
Mr Lane, who landed the Tattoo job after 24 years in charge of the Leeds-based theatre company Slung Low, has previously been involved in large-scale outdoor events in Hull, Leeds and Liverpool.
He can trace his involvement in the arts industry back to the Tattoo, the first ever live show he attended as a child, which he was taken to by his father, who was in the Royal Air Force.
A thistle is one of the images created by drones during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (Image: Ian Georgeson)
He added: 'The pyrotechnics in the show are much more environmentally friendly this year.
'There is a balance to be had. The public expect us to deliver something. We are very aware of the responsibility of this being the largest show in Britain, which has 900 people in the cast, happens every single year and offers a huge stage for Scottish traditional performing arts and military music.'
The Tattoo has been under growing pressure from councillors in the city to reduce the environmental impact of the event. Concerns have also been raised about the impact of fireworks displays on household pets, war veterans and refugees.
However the Tattoo has insisted they should be retained to reflect the origins of the show, which was instigated a few years after the end of the Second World War. An RAF Typhoon jet, the RAF's Red Arrows 'aerobatics' team and an Army Apache helicopter have all been lined up to appear above the castle during this year's show.
Mr Lane told The Herald: 'The flypasts are an important part of the Tattoo's identify. The flypasts are really popular, not just with a large part of our audience, but with the general public.
'People get in touch with us every time this comes up. I am always surprised at how enthusiastic people are about them.
'But that doesn't mean that we don't have to respect the opinions of those who don't like them.
Tattoo chief executive Jason Barrett added: 'We were born from the spirit of post-war celebration, and that legacy continues to inspire everything we do.
'The flypasts are a demonstration of the Tattoo's support and commitment to UK's defence forces and are a cherished tradition and a much-loved highlight of our Show – stirring pride and joy in equal measure.
'As we turn our eyes to the sky, we're reminded of the extraordinary dedication of our armed forces — at home and around the world.'
Edinburgh's traditional end-of-festival fireworks concert in Princes Street Gardens has not been staged since 2019, the year before the Covid pandemic forced the cancellation of the city's major events.
The event, which was staged annually by the Edinburgh International Festival since 1982, has not returned due to a shortage of funding and the lack of a sponsor for the event, which has attracted up to 250,000 spectators across the city.
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