Thousands offered preview of Scotland's Homecoming pageant

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 21:59

A FULL preview of the spectacular pageant billed as a centrepiece of Scotland's Homecoming celebrations is to be held the night before the gala event at Edinburgh Castle.

Thousands of members of the public are being offered the chance to attend a preview of the historical epic before it is played out on the castle esplanade in front of 8,000 clan members on Saturday, 25 July.

A full dress rehearsal of Aisling's Children: Tales of the Homecoming, the expected highlight of a two-day clan gathering in the city, featuring its full 180-strong cast, will be staged at the same arena.

The Gathering, which will be mainly held in the capital's Holyrood Park, is expected to attract crowds of more than 40,000 over its two days.

It will climax with a spectacular parade of clan members up the Royal Mile before they take their seats for the Saturday night performance of the pageant.

The show is being masterminded by veteran theatre director Mark Murphy and award-winning film composer Jim Sutherland.

Tickets for the preview of the show go on sale today from The Hub box office in the Royal Mile.