| PRESS
RELEASES Edinburgh
Tattoo Set for Australia
Posted
4th March 2004
First
Ever Visit to Australia:
Internationally acclaimed: Edinburgh
Military Tattoo To
present a Salute to Australia
World's mightiest arts, cultural and entertainment
event at
Aussie Stadium, Sydney, February 2005 The
Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the most celebrated entertainment attractions
in the world, will visit Australia for the very first time in February 2005. Over
1300 performers including military bands from five countries, pipes and drums
and supporting performers will take part in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
This is only the second time in its 54-year history that the Tattoo has been staged
outside Edinburgh and represents a major coup for Sydney. The only other appearance
outside Edinburgh was in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2000.
Over more than half a century plus, some 11 million people have attended live
performances of the Tattoo, staged in front of historic Edinburgh Castle, while
a staggering 100 million people worldwide enjoy the event annually on television.
Last New Year's Day over 1.3 million Australian viewers enjoyed the 2003 Tattoo
broadcast on ABC.
With personnel representing all sectors of the Australian Defence Force, the live
performances in Sydney next February will be the largest single gathering of military
and civilian musicians and dancers ever seen in Australia.
In Sydney, announcing the Tattoo's forthcoming visit to Australia, Chief Executive
and Producer of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Brigadier Melville Jameson CBE
DL, said today: "We are delighted that the Tattoo will be seen in Australia.
Over the years millions of Australians have seen it either while visiting Edinburgh
or on television and many bands and performers from all over Australia have taken
part." "Links
between Australia and Britain are remarkably strong and the Tattoo in Sydney next
February will honour those links and our shared history."
Full details of participants will be released when tickets go on sale to the public
in June.
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR TATTOO VISIT TO AUSTRALIA
The visit to Australia by The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has the support of the
Federal and New South Wales State Governments and the full co-operation of The
Australian Defence Forces. "For
the first time in its history, the Tattoo will come to Australia in 2005 and I
am delighted to provide my support for this much anticipated event", said
the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard, MP. "The
Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a wonderful celebration of the history and pageantry
of military tradition. Bringing together regimental, police and civilian bands
from around the world and featuring a diverse range of musical performers, the
Tattoo has become a truly international event. "
General Peter J. Cosgrove, AC, MC, Chief of the Defence Force also welcomed the
visit. "The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has a long and distinguished history"
said General Cosgrove. " The 2005 Edinburgh Military Tattoo while not only
providing an opportunity to highlight the longstanding relationship between the
Australian and British Forces, will also provide recognition of the skills and
professionalism of the men and women of both Forces."
NSW Premier, the Hon Bob Car, MP also supported the historic visit. "I'm
delighted Sydney's been entrusted with the rare honour of hosting the Edinburgh
Military Tattoo away from the majesty of its familiar castle home. It's a trust
we proudly accept …a trust we'll execute with loving regard for the grandeur
and precision of this extraordinary event."
The visit also has the enthusiastic endorsement of the New South Wales Major Events
Board. "It's anticipated that thousands of visitors will flock to Sydney
from interstate and from New Zealand for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
see the Tattoo live", said Board Chairman Sir Nicholas Shehadie, AC OBE. AN
OLYMPIC-SCALE PRODUCTION FOR TATTOO VISIT TO AUSTRALIA Bringing
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo to Australia is an activity of huge logistic proportions.
But the biggest challenge of all will be recreating the guardhouse, gates and
walls of historic Edinburgh Caste on the turf of Aussie Stadium. This dramatic
backdrop is synonymous with the Tattoo and is, in the words of Tattoo organisers,
"essential to the magic of the presentation."
Just over 25 metres high and embracing the entire southern end of the Stadium,
the replica of the Castle will be faithful in every detail including drawbridge,
sentry boxes and emplacements for cannon on the ramparts.
The flags of Australia, Britain and Scotland will flutter from flagpoles from
the ramparts where the traditional Lone Piper will appear at the conclusion of
the show.
The Castle will also be the staging point for a magnificent nightly fireworks
display. State-of-the-art
sound, dramatic lighting and spectacular pyrotechnics in combination with massed
bands and an arena packed with performers will make this the greatest outdoor
spectacle seen in Australia since the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics. General
public enquiries and advance ticketing registration:
www.edinburghtattooinaustralia.com.au For
further media enquiries: The
Tattoo Office
32 Market Street
Edinburgh EH1 1QB
Tel: +44 (0) 131
225 4783
Fax:: +44 (0) 131-225 8627
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