Extraordinarily talented percussion artists, and they're seductive, alluring performers - Chicago Tribune

Undoubtedly one of the finest shows on offer this has to be seen to be believed - Edinburgh Evening Tribune

Following the highly-successful and critically-acclaimed sell out world tour, and No.1 box-office smash hit of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Japans most celebrated and elite company of Martial Arts Drummers, Drum-Tao, will return to Australian stages to premiere their latest awe-inspiring and innovative production entitled TAO The Martial Art Of The Drum in June 2008, proudly presented by Retfar Entertainment.

This production has been seen by over 2.5-Million worldwide, amassing an unsurpassed reputation for their stunningly executed performances. The incomparable quality and pure unadulterated power and spectacle of their work perfectly blends the ancient traditions of Taiko Drumming with the innovative and flawlessly choreographed production values of contemporary Japanese excellence.

TAO a word that uses the Chinese character for way or road was founded in 1993 with the bold goal of creating a brand of wadaiko entertainment that would appeal to audiences worldwide. While a potentially favourable wadaiko boom was emerging in Japan at the time, TAO recognised that this was a mere passing phenomenon that hardly emphasised the importance of real drumming skills. In a brave move, the group decided to first lay their roots in the southern Kyushu region to enable them to steadily build strength and hone their skills until they would be ready to play in front of demanding, international audiences.

Following its astounding success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2004, TAO have toured New Zealand, Israel, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom, followed by a second appearance in Edinburgh. TAO are returning to Australia after a sell-out tour in 2006. The time has finally come for TAO the worldwide wadaiko entertainment group to start its engine and live up to its full potential, entertaining audiences around the globe. Powerful athletic bodies, explosive percussion and timeless rituals are complimented perfectly in this Japanese spectacular featuring unrivalled drumming and martial arts mastery that creates an unforgettable performance. The 10 young drummers beat their huge drums with outstanding precision, vehemence and persistency on their Wadaiko-Drums, which have a circumference of up to 1,70 metres and weighs about 400 kilograms.