Drummer Queens

There’s a smidgen of other stuff in Drummer Queens, which started a year-long Australian tour at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, but it’s basically eight women bashing away on a variety of surfaces, from two full drum kits to one big bass jungle drum to the merest tinkling triangle. But judging by their reception, the cast will be Queens of all they survey.

It’s no surprise to see a woman powerfully express herself on a drum kit – think of Karen Carpenter or Meg White. But coming in a through line from Tap Dogs, the all-male equivalent created by Dein Perry, Drummer Queens is a female power house of rhythm created by composer and musical supervisor Joe Accaria. Eight tireless women supply the thumping beats, push the scenery around and are endlessly supportive of each other. 

Costumed handsomely and sedately by Adrienn Lord and Richard Neville, and choreographed by one of their number, Peta Anderson, the cast run, bash and hammer everywhere – with or without drumsticks. Peta gets to show some great tap dancing, expertly delivered, but just a bit, before the cast return to supply a torrent of powerful beats.

The cast are dressed, if not exactly demurely, then certainly discretely in what appears to be a version of hunting gear in aspects of yellow. In the end there’s a change to more formal red outfits, not the kind of costume women of a few years ago would have worn on the variety stage. Bravo to all, and to the creative direction of Nigel Turner-Carroll.

The eight women share the stage throughout, each appearing as helpers at each other’s big moments. The sense of sharing is considerable.

Towards the end the set, which has behaved itself for the first hour, takes over with flashing lights and multiple levels. There’s a rise in the level of sound and Salina Myat plays a weird ‘boomph box’. The audience responds with full-throated yelps and screams. By the end the Drummer Queens fully rule.

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: David Hooley