Brighton Argus –  Theatre Royal,Brighton

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A Different Drum

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The ten talented percussionists of Noise Ensemble provided an evening that not only fused remarkable sound with brilliant colours but also wove into the routines extraordinary choreographed movement. At times the fervour of the young players echoed the tribal rituals of Africa and theSouth Seas. Every conceivable variety of drum was used along with anything else that could be struck, scraped or shaken. These were backed on occasions by guitar and a soundtrack of electronic music which had an ethereal quality.

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The evening was not all heavy passion – it was laced with gentleness and humour. Subtle and tender sounds came from such instruments as the vibraphone, the xylophone and even the humble triangle, in all its differing sizes. Humour pervaded the evening with a witty send-up of satellite TV channels depicted on a screen at the rear of the stage and several comic numbers. These included a mime using different sounds for various body movements , the boredom of the percussion section as they awaited their brief moments of glory at the end of a symphony and a number where the drummers chased and played their instruments which took on a life of their own as they flew around the stage.

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In highlighting the percussion instruments normally relegated to the back of an orchestra, director and composer, Ethan Lewis Maltby has created a dazzling showcase for these Cinderella instruments. All the instruments shone but the stars of the evening were the drums which throbbed and pulsated throughout. The response of the audience showed that the evening, if you will forgive the pun, was a thumping great success.