Edinburgh Tattoo: Stars prepare for show

THE puppet horse Joey, from the award-winning West End theatre production War Horse, came nose to nose with Cruachan IV, Royal Scots mascot at a rehearsal for the 2013 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which starts tomorrow.

War Horse's Joey meets CruachanIV at Tattoo rehearsals. Picture: Toby Williams

The pair, pictured with Pony Major Corporal Mark Wilkinson, met during a rehearsal at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, for the Tattoo, which runs until 24 August.

Music from the show, based on the children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo about a farm horse sent to the front in France during the First World War, will be performed at this year’s 64th tattoo.

Taking place on the Esplanade against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the tattoo features a wide range of entertainment, including the massed pipes and drums, the Imps motorcycle troop from East London, and a “recreation” of the volcano which created the castle.

The military showpiece will celebrate The Year of Natural Scotland and Our Wonderful World.