Abu Dhabi Festival presents 'drumming meets theatre' in this performance by the seasoned Japanese troupe KODO in Abu Dhabi.

This troupe of highly skilled drummers delivers a thrilling theatrical experience that transcends language and cultural boundaries.

Since the group’s debut at the Berliner Festspiele in 1981, Kodo has given over 7,000 performances in more than 50 countries and regions on five continents. In Japanese, the word ‘kodo’ can have two meanings - it can be translated as ‘heartbeat’, the primal source of all rhythm, and in a different context it can mean ‘children of the drum’, which reflects the group’s desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child.

The largest of the taiko drums that they play can weigh up to three tonnes and are made from the trunk of a single tree. Kodo have performed in theatres around the world and every year since 1988 have presented the Earth Celebration, an international arts celebration.