Fills Monkey: We Will Drum You @ Pleasance Courtyard

When faced with an hour-long show with drumming at its core, you may wonder how long will it take for the idea to wear thin. Thankfully, We Will Drum You is a genuinely inventive and exquisite musical clowning show that never strays into repetition. 

Performers Yann Coste and Sébastien Rambaud launch into their drumming with no preamble or warmup. The audience is taken on a trip through musical genres with an acrobatic and dynamic show from the French pair. The performance doesn’t feature a single spoken word, transcending language barriers. There’s no politics or agenda, just a couple of blokes being silly and making excellent music. The duo use various tools to make music, including some household items and a few tricks (particularly one with a chainsaw) that you should file under ‘don’t try this at home.’

The pair have fantastic chemistry with each other and great rapport with the audience, who feel like part of the action without ever being dragged on stage. The show features Coste and Rambaud trying to one-up each other with their performance, leading to some spectacular musical displays. You can tell the duo are influenced by classic rock, but there are a few melodic curveballs to keep the audience on their toes. The energy is infectious and silly, and the lighting cues are perfectly matched to the action, and adding to the party atmosphere in the room. 

Under the direction of Daniél Briere, the show is constantly shifting and changing, so there’s no time for boredom. The choreography is remarkable, with every pratfall and blunder well-rehearsed. We Will Drum You features a tour-de-force performance from Coste and Rambaud that will have your foot stomping one minute and in fits of giggles the next. A true musical and comedy triumph. 

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Fills Monkey: We Will Drum You, Pleasance Courtyard (The Grand), until 29 Aug, 4pm, £15-17.50