Tao’s drumming is truly a spectacle to behold. From the offset the performers beat rhythms both in solo performance and in group formation with pauses honed to the millisecond.
The troupe is a finely tuned and poised bunch, clearly enjoying playing what looks like astoundingly hard work. This is reflected in their lean bodies with more muscle definition than is right on a human being. They often use their whole bodies to express the rhythm; hiding behind drums, throwing in some leaps that accentuate their flowing skirted trousers and looking at one another whilst “throwing” a rhythm from drum to drum with their sticks.
The troupe is majority male but a few females participate in the drumming and play the flute and stringed instruments with just as much passion and fierceness as the others.
The title is slightly misleading as other than a phenomenal staff wielding towards the end there is very little else except drumming in various styles and on drums varying from smaller bongo sized ones through to frankly, an enormous one. It could have done with a few more pieces based upon the “Samurai” of the title but placing this aside however, the drumming and charisma of the performers onstage is playful, exciting and captivating and makes more than enough for a good hours show well worth a look if grandiose (and loud!) shows are your thing.
4/5 
Catriona Ruth Paterson
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