THE DREAM
Peacock Theatre
★★★★★
“when they play, dance, and show their extraordinary physicality, they are as one”
Drum TAO’s much-anticipated London debut and the UK premiere of their new show The Dream at the Peacock Theatre must be seen to be believed – on only till Saturday 15th March. Do not miss it!
The Dream is a cultural revelation, and the audience were in thrall from the second this hugely talented Japanese drumming ensemble of eleven supreme performers burst onto the stage.
This is musicality like never before.
As soon as one set of rhythms is played with the performers moving all the while to hugely difficult choreographed moves of athleticism, it changes up to yet even more extraordinary feats of precise and intense physicality and playing another unbelievable beat of beauteous drumming.
Taro Harasaki, Junnosuke Kodani, Haruki Kawazu, Kyota Sonoda, Koki Sato, Haruto Mizuno, Takumi Azami, Ryusei Ishida, Daiki Sakai, Shima Sasaki and Ai Anekawa are all titans of their art forms and performance. Their control and energy never let up for a second.
From small to huge Wadaiko drums, some even played whilst the player was literally sitting astride as if riding a stallion. There is every taiko-drum size in between, plus tiny lovely high noted symbols and the traditional Syamisen guitars being played as if they were at a rock’n’roll gig! Every performer could play every instrument. The connection between each performer and instrument, could be seen through their pure joy and abandonment to the sounds and rhythms they were flawlessly playing, drumming at speeds so fast that it was difficult to even see.
At one point two groups of four were drumming, dancing and circling round humungous taiko-drums keeping the complicated rhythms completely in sync with not a stick or arm movement out of place. And just when you thought you’d seen it all, fans, parasols, weapons or even the drum sticks themselves were used to dance in precise traditional Japanese style, yet always with a modern twist to their extraordinary technique and core strength.
There was also supreme poetry in sections of beautiful filmic melodies on the wooden Shinobue flutes and Koto harps; and the respect that the two females showed to each of their wooden flutes, literally cherishing it in their hands every time they finished playing was sublime.
This is contemporary Japanese performance, intertwined with traditional Japanese elements.
Each performer has their own hugely individual personality and boyband hair style and look, from bleached blonde and dark roots to ponytail and afro, to amazing front flick floppy fringe; and the two girls in the team with their long loose hair, could hair flip as confidently as the guys – every audience member had their individual favourite! But when they play, dance, and show their extraordinary physicality, they are as one.
The traditional Japanese comedy was true showmanship, with each performer knowing exactly just how far to push the audience as drummers went head-to-head in mock drumming one upmanship – and they got away with it because they were such brilliant percussionists playing such remarkable rhythms.
The male performers wore traditional Japanese shaped costumes which were covered in sequins, which was a bit garish – but hey they wear it well! The Dream is directed seamlessly by Ikuo Fujitaka, with perfectly matched lighting by Ryo Harada and sound by Kenichi Horiuchi.
A smile of wonder never left my face throughout this stunningly slick theatrical experience.
THE DREAM
Peacock Theatre
Reviewed on 11th March 2025
by Debbie Rich
Photography courtesy Drum Tao
Previously reviewed at Sadler’s Wells venues:
DEEPSTARIA | ★★★★ | February 2025
VOLLMOND | ★★★★★ | February 2025
DIMANCHE | ★★★★ | January 2025
SONGS OF THE WAYFARER | ★★★★ | December 2024
NOBODADDY (TRÍD AN BPOLL GAN BUN) | ★★★★ | November 2024
THE SNOWMAN | ★★★★ | November 2024
EXIT ABOVE | ★★★★ | November 2024
ΑΓΡΙΜΙ (FAUVE) | ★★★ | October 2024
STORIES – THE TAP DANCE SENSATION | ★★★★★ | October 2024
FRONTIERS: CHOREOGRAPHERS OF CANADA | ★★★★ | October 2024
