Emotional words from a new poem by Scots Makar Jackie Kay were displayed in the skies over Edinburgh as part of this year’s virtual Hogmanay celebrations.

Drone light show communicates emotional message over Edinburgh

Poetry and visual art were combined in the first installment of the Fare Well event to mark Hogmanay. The coronavirus pandemic forced the event to be a virtual one that could be watched online.

The free-to-view installation features a specially written poem by Kay, voiced by David Tennant, Siobhan Redmond and Lorne MacFadyen, and featuring a score by Skye-based Celtic fusion band Niteworks, reports The Scotsman.

A “visually captivating” drone light show near the Spean Bridge in the Highlands will accompany the poem written by Kay, voiced by David Tennant, Siobhan Redmond, and Lorne MacFadyen.

The aerial display or drone light show was created with the use of 150 autonomous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flying at an altitude of almost 500 feet, reaching top speeds of up to 25mph. The drones flying in formation created a series of images, including a galloping stag and the Saltire cross.

“Over the last four months, we have been innovating with an amazing team to design and produce this world-class event in Fare Well, which viewers from around the world can tune in to watch this Hogmanay,” said Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly and producers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. “Every year we celebrate Edinburgh’s unique position as being the home of Hogmanay and while we can’t gather in person, this online event gives us a moment to collectively join together to reflect and bid farewell to 2020.”

The Fare Well event can be viewed for free at www.edinburghshogmanay.com at 7 pm local time and from the same time on Wednesday and Thursday.

More drone light show news can be found here.

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Photo: Picture: Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

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