Public light shows have become a mainstay of festival entertainment in recent years allowing artists to tell stories through dynamic, 3D visuals projected onto the built architecture of the city.
The Edinburgh International Festival has had some memorable light shows as part of its opening events, from the Five Telegrams which marked the centenary of the First World War with percussion and dramatic 3-D projections on the Usher Hall, to last year’s self-reflective Where to Begin.
In EIF 2016’s mesmerizing Opening’s Event Deep Time, a show that was projected onto the Castle Rock, we skated through the geologic story of Edinburgh with bursting lava, rolling ocean and cascading rocks.
The Edinburgh Tattoo has also used vivid 3D projections beamed onto the castle ramparts in its show for years, adding a rich backdrop to the performances on the esplanade.
Edinburgh Castle’s Castle of Light is similar in style, the difference being that this is a series of smaller scale installations projected on the exterior walls within the castle compound.
As any local knows, when you choose to do an outdoor event in Edinburgh, in the middle of winter, on one of the most exposed locations in the city, conditions are more than likely to be inclement.
The creators of Castle of Light have recognised there are limits to how long people can stand and watch something on a typical Scottish winter night, with each installation taking only a few minutes to appreciate. Sometimes it's a video installation, which loops back to the start after a short run, or atmospheric lights that you take in when passing.
The installations are a hodgepodge of the magical, historic, and festive, with an ice queen and a mythical creature here, and Christmas pop alongside Scottish historical characters there.
We probably couldn’t have picked a more miserably wet and windy day to see the show if we tried. We were half expecting (hoping, if I’m honest) that it would be cancelled. However, cancellation only happens, apparently, when conditions are so bad that they pose a physical risk to the general public.
Steering our umbrellas against a strengthening wind, we sloshed through the rain running in rivulets down the Esplanade.
The approach to the castle was reminiscent of the Tattoo. Projected flames were licking the walls of the castle facade, laser beams shot from gun embrasures across the esplanade and shafts of light swept above our heads. All very impressive.
The first installation, on crossing the draw bridge, is an odd animation featuring Rex the Mascot and a unicorn. It probably meant more to someone of a younger age.
The walk up the bending road to the portcullis gate was more dark and atmospheric, particularly in the reflective light of the rain on all surrounding surfaces. Until the gate itself which was lit up with patterns and images in light.
I was intrigued by what a wander around the castle at night would be like, particularly with the festive lights of Edinburgh scattered below the ramparts. The view is fantastic. Leaning on a canon we admired the Christmas Market and the rise and falling Big Wheel and Star Flyer below. The jumble of attractions looked like a Christmas model.
Continuing on, we dallied under the cover of a doorway in Hospital Square for a mystical like animation in which snowbursts of wintry imagery morphed from an ice queen, to a stag, to an eagle.
As we continued to climb up the hill, there was a roar and a blast of flames above us. A Nessie like dragon slid from a high window, floated along the wall and then returned back into its hole.
Blue-green icicles shot across the back of St Margaret's chapel and stars and snow played on the museum walls.
In spite of the rain, we were getting more in the festive mood.
As we drew close to the Governor’s House, we could hear Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas and we came across a screen with compositions made from coloured tubes, one shaped like fire, another electric blue wings. Here you could get your memento photograph wearing blue wings or fire.
Familiar tracks on the show's theme of Fire and Ice were pumping out in Crown Square, with the front of the Royal Palace animated by a club-like sequence of projections. As Nelly’s Hot in Here and Pitbull’s Fireball played, people gamely strutted a few moves to the tunes brollies in hand.
Most of Castle of Light takes place outdoors, but given the conditions we were glad of a chance to take a break from the wind and rain to meet the Ice Queen in the Great Hall. A huge Christmas Tree has been erected as you enter and the actress playing the character welcomed us like old friends. Snow flakes whirled across the walls, with their various weaponry.
As there were few people on the tour, we had her to ourselves. She was talkative and friendly, full of local titbits of historical information and ice-queen humour. She was only too happy to pose with us for photos and offered up her throne for more photos.
It was a good way to round off a wet, but nevertheless enjoyable wander around the castle compound.
Tickets for Castle of Light start at £10 from Historic Scotland