Japan’s most celebrated and elite company of martial arts drummers, Drum-Tao return to Australia starting their national tour from Perth.
They bring their awe-inspiring and innovative production of “The Samurai of the Drum” to the Australian Stages in June 2010.
After highly successful and critically acclaimed sell-out world tours and again a No.1 box-office smash hit of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the incomparable quality and power and spectacle of their work perfectly blends the ancient traditions of Taiko Drumming with the innovative and flawlessly choreographed production values of contemporary Japanese excellence.
Thirteen young drummers summon the spirit of the Samurai as they beat with precision, vehemence and persistency on their huge Wadaiko-Drums, which have a circumference of up to 1.70 metres and weigh up to 400 kilograms.
The artists sculpt their artistic bodies and express their music with their whole being as they play – the precision and the power of the performance is heightened by their infectious smiles, enthusiasm and burning passion shining in their eyes.
Explosive percussion and timeless rituals are complimented perfectly in this Japanese spectacular featuring unrivalled drumming, martial arts mastery, and with the incorporation of the softer tones of the Japanese flute and horizontal harp the true brilliance of this show is the ability of the performers to balance the thunderous drumming with moments of delicacy and playfulness that create an unforgettable performance.
“Spectacular percussive, visually compelling, and elementally energising… precisely choreographed and athletically executed… as strange and beautiful as a dream” – UK Independent
“Extraordinary talented percussion artists, and they’re seductive, alluring performers” – Chicago Tribune “Knock on the sound of life. TAO will vibrate people’s heart” – China Times “This is a show of rare excellence… Run, don’t walk to the box office.” – The Edinburgh Evening News
TOUR DATES:
Friday July 2 and Saturday July 3 - Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
Tuesday July 6 to Sunday July 11 - The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
Tuesday July 13 - Canberra Theatre Centre
Thursday July 15 to Saturday July 17 - State Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday July 20 - Civic Theatre Newcastle
Friday July 23 - Gold Coast Arts Centre
Saturday July 24 - Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane
