The Performance and the Edinburgh Tattoo

Occasionally, very occasionally, it has been known to rain on the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (The Business Manager has just read that, and exploded like an outraged heavy artillery shell. 'Never!' he boomed. 'It is never wet for the Tattoo.' Well, it is his job to attract the crowds - and to do him full justice the records show that you have better than five chances in six of fair weather.) Yet it is perhaps the inclement evenings which particularly enhance the rapport between audience and performers. There is a feeling of mutual sympathy which forms an even stronger bond than usual. As one piper put it between shows on a damp Saturday: 'It's just water, only skin deep. The audience is probably sorry for us but at least we're on duty. They're here to enjoy themselves, so I hope the weather doesn't ruin their evening.' In a revealing comment another piper said 'I'd rather have rain on the esplanade any day than the dust at the Royal Tour. See that dust, it gets in the pipes and all over your uniform, and it gets up your nose.'

Perhaps the worst thing about wet weather is that it makes the stones so slippery. In particular the drawbridge cobbles become treacherous, like sloping sheets of ice beneath the Pipers' brogues. Water also soaks into the wood and sheep-skin of the bagpipes. The priority after those few wet shows is to dry the pipes out thoroughly and fast. Next comes the uniform, which must be pressed immediately so that it does not dry out of shape, neither the cut of the doublet nor the hang of the kilt spoilt. The pipers' feather bonnets also need special attention. Privately, Tattoo performers will tell you that if there has to be rain, they would prefer it on Saturdays; yes, there are two shows to do and a late finish, but the uniforms have the whole of Sunday and Monday to dry out completely and the troops have a long lie on Sunday.

For what it's worth, the weather seems genuinely not to worry the Tattoo crowd. 'The rain didn't spoil it one bit, it was brilliant', was a typical comment from one Yorkshire family, while some Australians said 'We came prepared with waterproofs. It was a wonderful show; the weather didn't matter at all - it's part of the scenery in Scotland.' And one rain-soaked Italian at the same performance left proclaiming 'Terrific! We come again!' He certainly will - and next time it's sure to be dry. Whatever the weather you are assured of seeing a magnificent spectacle when you come to the Tattoo; but what won't you see? One easy answer is that you will not see about half the Tattoo personnel, for almost as many people are involved behind the scenes as appear on the esplanade.