Kagemusha Taiko

Spirit of the Drum

Saturday 2 February

8pm

£10 Adults / £8 U16

Tickets from Lyme Tourist Information Centre 01297 442138

 Children from Charmouth Primary School will be joining the highly trained Kagemusha Taiko drummers at the Marine Theatre on Saturday 2 February at 8.00. “All children involved in our Taiko drumming group at the school thoroughly enjoy their experience” explained Chris Vincent the Headteacher of Charmouth Primary School, “and having seen Kagemusha Taiko perform with our children I know it’ll be an excellent evening’s entertainment.” The school children have been learning Taiko drumming from the Exeter based group and are now ready to show off their skills in one of the numbers. Tickets for the evening are available from Lyme Tourist Information Centre on 01297 442138. The high energy beautifully choreographed dramatic drumming opens the door on the ancient Japanese art. From the BBC proms to the Milan Fashion show Kagemusha Taiko have captured the audience’s imagination and left them wanting more.

Under the Artistic Directorship of Jonathan Kirby, who trained with leading Californian taiko group San Jose Taiko, the group has performed to great acclaim and appeal to all ages. Jonathan has the role of lead trainer and artistic director, composing and choreographing the group's repertoire  Formerly a long-term kit drummer, Jonathan played in a string of groups including Diatribe (John Peel favourites in the 1980s) and PressGang (modern interpretations of traditional English songs), as well as a range of jazz and pop/rock ensembles.  In 1996-97, he  trained with leading Californian taiko group San Jose Taiko and returned to the U.K. with a personal mission to help get taiko established in this country.  A qualified and experienced secondary teacher (French), Jonathan also has more than ten years highly successful international management experience with Hewlett-Packard Company.  Since the establishment of Kagemusha Taiko, Jonathan has had the role of lead trainer and artistic director, composing and choreographing the group's repertoire as well as devising training curriculum and producing training videos and other teaching materials.

The company and group logo is an interpretation of the mitsu-tomoe normally associated with taiko. Drawing on the idea of Celtic knots, but retaining the basic comma shape, it reflects Kagemusha Taiko's principle of creating new work that is true to one's own culture, while understanding and respecting others.Group Repertoire is composed mostly by its leader, Jonathan Kirby, with contributions from group members.  The repertoire is original, informed not just by understanding and respect for the history and traditions of taiko, but also by the rhythms, song and dance of the British Isles.  This emerging, highly-choreographed style has been enthusiastically received across the UK, and also in Japan.