TILBURY Douglas has completed the construction of the grandstand infrastructure for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for the 13th year in a row.
Working within the historic setting of Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, the team built the temporary 9,000-seat stadium which provides the backdrop for the iconic event. The stadium will host 24 performances throughout August, welcoming more than 220,000 spectators, while an estimated global television audience of around 100 million people will experience the Tattoo.
Tilbury Douglas explained that transforming the Castle Esplanade into a world class performance venue requires ‘meticulous planning, close collaboration and precise execution’, before safely handing the facility over ready for rehearsals and performances.
Construction of the temporary stadium involves the installation of more than 800 tonnes of steel across over 6,800 individual sections. The project also requires around 1,700 crane lifts and the installation of approximately 35 miles of cabling.
The project team planned construction activities while Edinburgh Castle remained open to around 12,000 visitors every day. Maintaining safe pedestrian routes, protecting the historic environment and minimising disruption throughout the build programme were key priorities, requiring close coordination with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Historic Environment Scotland and the wider team.
Barry O’Hagan, regional director – Scotland at Tilbury Douglas, said, “We are delighted to have successfully handed over the grandstands for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, continuing what has become a valued 13-year partnership. This is one of the most logistically challenging projects we deliver and its continued success is a credit to our team, supply chain partners and everyone involved. Delivering a project of this scale within the historic setting of Edinburgh Castle, while the castle remains open to thousands of visitors every day, requires careful planning, close collaboration and excellent programme management.
“The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is such an iconic event for Scotland and it is a real privilege for Tilbury Douglas to play a part in bringing it to life each year. We are very proud of what the team continues to achieve and look forward to another successful Tattoo.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo chief executive, Jason Barrett, added, “Thanks to Tilbury Douglas and our hard working operations team, our world renowned Edinburgh Castle Arena is ready to welcome thousands of spectators from across the globe once again this summer. There’s nowhere more iconic for an outdoor show, and we’re proud to deliver our successful events, in partnership with all our important stakeholders, year on year right here in Edinburgh.”
