M.Couzens Reviews
Reviewers
Yamato Drummers of Japan
Shin-on (Heartbeat)
Artistic Director – Masa Ogawa
Peacock Theatre
19 – 30 March, 2008
ary Couzens
A review by Mary Couzens for EXTRA! EXTRA!
The company’s name Yamato symbolizes the very beginnings of Japanese culture, which, according to legend, took place in the region they hail from, Nara. Taiko drums are, in the words of Yamato’s founder and Artistic Director Maso Oyava ‘the seat of their deities, of spirits (of the ancestors).’ The thinking behind the show’s title Shin-on is that ‘beneath all human experience is the heartbeat,’ which is, in turn, Oyava adds, ‘moved by the soul, the tamashii.’
The ancient art of taiko drumming is a physically challenging one, as the size of the instruments played ranges from fairly recognizable to six feet across barrel like Odaiko (‘big, fat drum’) and the speed with which the instruments are played is, without doubt unprecedented. The young drummers themselves also command attention, not only with the reverberating volume of their playing, but with the energy, force and power of its execution. Each of the fourteen members of this male and female company may, at times, attempt to outdo one another in terms of expertise and invention, but in truth, each musician is a master in his or her own right. The instruments played are traditional ones, but there are also contemporary influences blended into the performance. For, despite the decidedly Japanese unification of the company, each member of the cast allows their own distinctive onstage ‘personality’ to emerge.
Red and blue lights fall on a series of drums of varying sizes, with a massive Odaiko looming at the back. As a drummer emerges and the first beats of the giant drum fill the theatre, two more musicians join him on smaller ones, and begin to play at a similarly vigorous pace. Six more drummers join them down front, alternately chanting ‘ha-ha’ as they play. As energetic a session of drumming as could ever be imagined ensues, with each player giving his all. A satisfied, collective ‘aaaaaah’ concludes the piece.
Yamato consists of eight women and six men, each of whom play their drums, not just with their hands and arms, but with their whole bodies, throwing themselves into each powerful strike. They hold their arms high in the air after each fervent roll of their lengthily drumsticks, which are often so thick, they look more like wooden rolling pins. It’s quite a sight, watching the members of this troupe throw their heads back as they furiously pound away at their drums. In such moments, their unwavering focus would surely rival that of any Olympic athlete. Small wonder, for such strenuous drumming requires great strength and stamina. But watching soon takes a back seat to listening, and one forgets whether the drummers are playing with two hands or one, as they sometimes do.
In one particularly stunning segment, entitled ‘Hayate’, a young woman sits behind a screen playing a Shami-sen, a bango like instrument with three strings. To many Western ears, the sound of her playing might seem quintessentially Japanese. As her playing progresses, however, contemporary twists begin to emerge, and the big drum joins in, rumbling behind her like thunder. The lone strummer then becomes one of a trio of musicians, who take their places centre stage, each rapidly plucking (with a triangular plectrum) on their Shami-sen with oddly funky, get down conviction, generating a strangely familiar, other worldliness as a punky-haired drummer (or two) contribute their own distinctive beats to the mix, generating a pattering sound via their oversized drum-kits not unlike heavy rain on a roof. The programme states that Hayate means ‘fresh breeze running through trees.’
There is also humour to be found in Shin-on, as a war of the genders takes place in one segment with two female drummers handily conquering one traditionally male task after another as performed by two of their jokingly disgruntled fellows. In another portion of the show, tiny cymbal like instruments called ‘Chappa’ are used to great comic effect when three musicians take magical turns with them, seemingly, ‘catching’ and ‘capturing’ sounds between their circular discs. And viewers also become participants when the audience is assigned clapping rhythms by grinning Takeru Matsushita which, hurriedly become out of hand, as the lightening quick drummers on stage behind him steadily accelerate their speed.
A three tiered set designed by the company’s Director Masa Ogawa featuring bamboo screens, which are translucent in certain lighting, allows for playing on three different levels, a la earth, man and sky. Black loosely fitted costumes in the earlier portions of the show, by Akko Ogawa give way to blazing red satin, sleeveless over-robes in part two, flowing, but thoughtfully constructed to allow for flourishes without incident during high leaps and spins. Beautifully attuned lighting, courtesy of Shingo ‘Matchy’ Matsumoto, strikes just the right tones in softer moments, while keeping pace with more frantic ones.
Throughout the show, the rhythm of the fiercely repetitive drumming is somewhat dissonant, yet, oddly harmonic and the often, synchronized movements of the musicians, which include agile leaping, (reflecting on martial arts), encourage total focus on the sounds. So mesmerizing is the drummers’ playing and presentation that their performance itself almost becomes a form of mutual meditation, with the musicians and their instruments, intermingled with the rapt attention of the audience.
Yamato are lethal drummers; they know it and they enjoy it, and their audience enjoys it too. Sometimes they play so rapidly that their sticks become a blur, but as the pace slows to a more amiable rhythm, they smile. The new pace may be a piece of cake for them, but it’s still not one that we can even attempt to match at home.
If as ancient legends suggest, the playing of drums is an effective anecdote against evil spirits, having experienced Yamato’s Shin-on, one should safely remain goblin free for a long time to come.
www.sadlerswells.com
Box Office: 0844 412 4300
Peacock Theatre
Portugal Street, Holborn
WC2
Ticket office:
Tue – Sat at 7.30pm, Sat Mat at 2.30pm, Sun at 4pm
1 hr 40 mins (including one 20 min interval)
Tickets: £13 - £36
Under 16s: Half price tickets on all performances (max 2 per 1 adult)
Not Available online. Call the Ticket Office on 0844 412 4322
Group Discounts
Groups 8+ 20% off stalls seats for most performances.
To book, call the Ticket Office on 0844 412 4300.
School discount performances: Wed & Thu
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