UK PREMIERE
Yamato
Chousensha - The Challengers
The Peacock, WC2A
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 25 March
Performances: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm; Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm;
Sunday performances at 2pm & 6.30pm
Tickets: £15 - £38 (under 16s half price, maximum two half price child tickets per full paying adult)
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8222 or www.peacocktheatre.com
Almost 20 years since their West End debut in 1998, high-energy performance group Yamato Drummers of Japan return to The Peacock from Tuesday 14 – Saturday 25 March with the UK premiere of Chousensha - The Challengers bringing with them the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming, which is used traditionally in Japanese Shinto rituals.
Yamato brings new life to this ancient art form with their innovative shows whilst paying respect to its rich history. In a display of strength and ferocious skill Chousensha takes inspiration from the drummers’ own lives and experiences, challenging their bodies and pushing them to their physical limits, using their entire bodies to produce thunderous music.
Taiko drums can measure six feet in diameter, weigh up to half a tonne and require ample athleticism. The lithe and supremely confident drummers perform with bare arms and feet and with total body awareness.
Yamato is a company steeped in cultural history. The name Yamato refers to the name for ancient Japan during the eighth century. The company was formed by Masaaki Ogawa in 1993 in Japan’s ancient capital, the city of Nara. Nara is now the capital of Taiko drumming and boasts over 100 Taiko drumming companies. Since the company’s first performance at the Shinto shrine festival, they have given over 3,500 performances in 53 countries and regions to 6 million people. Yamato is based in a village called Asuka and the members of the company live together in a community and create everything for the shows, from the musical compositions to the choreography and from stage and props to the bachi (the drumming sticks).
Following The Peacock performances, the show will go on a UK tour:
Tuesday 28 March
Inverness
Eden Court
01463 234234
Thursday 30 March
Brighton
Brighton Dome
01273 709709
Friday 31March
High Wycombe
Wycombe Swan
01494 512000
Saturday 1 April
Torquay
Princess Theatre Torquay
0844 871 3023
Monday 3 April
Colchester
Mercury Theatre
01206 573948
Tuesday 4 April
Stoke-on-Trent
Victoria Hall
0844 871 7627
Wednesday 5 April
Reading
The Hexagon Theatre
0118 960 6060
Sunday 9 April
Glasgow
Theatre Royal Glasgow
0844 871 7647
Tuesday 11 April
Durham
Gala Theatre
0300 026 6600
Wednesday 12 April
Malvern
Festival Theatre
01684 892277
Thursday 13 April
Poole
Lighthouse
01202 280000
Saturday 15 April
Truro
Hall For Cornwall
01872 262466
Sunday 16 April
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Theatre
0844 871 7652
Wednesday 19 April
Rhyl
Pavilion Theatre
01745 330000
Saturday 22 April
Folkestone
Leas Cliff Hall
01303 228600
Monday 24 April
Bristol
Hippodrome Theatre
0844 871 3012
Tuesday 25 April
Oxford
New Theatre Oxford
0844 871 3020
Wednesday 26 April
Guildford
G Live
01483 369350
Friday 28 April
York
Grand Opera House
0844 871 3024
Saturday 29 April
Birmingham
New Alexandra Theatre
0844 871 3011
Sunday 30 April
Liverpool
Empire Theatre
0151 702 7320
Monday 1 May
Manchester
Palace Theatre
0844 871 3019
Press night: Wednesday 15 March at 7.30pm
For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Eugénie Dunster on 020 7863 8122 or eugenie.dunster@sadlerswells.com
Press images can be downloaded from http://media.sadlerswells.com - please contact the Press Officer for login details.
For more information on the tour please contact David Bradbury on 07884 067 455 or davidbradbury@theambassadors.com
Notes to Editors:
ABOUT SADLER’S WELLS
Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance house, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best international and UK dance to London and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding, the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.
Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 100 new dance works to the stage and its award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour internationally. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies, an Associate Company and three International Associate Companies. It also nurtures the next generation of talent through research and development, running the National Youth Dance Company and a range of programmes including Wild Card, New Wave Associates, Open Art Surgery and Summer University.
Located in Islington, north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England.