Drums can stir up a range of human emotions. Some beats fill us with calmness, while others get us feeling all fired up — just compare a meditative sound bath with a heavy metal concert. While the rhythms and melodies may be completely different at these two events, the way they unite people through synchronised beats is the same. It’s a connecting experience, and at ‘We call it Drums’ in Toronto, audiences come together to hear movie soundtracks performed by talented percussionists playing LED-lit drums.
On selected dates over the coming months, The Royal Theatre will be hosting this shining live drum show. Tickets are on sale now but spaces are limited, so make sure you get yours today.
What is ‘We call it Drums’?
At ‘We call it Drums’, five percussionists journey through your favourite movie scenes while performing scores from the likes of Star Wars over the course of three acts. LED-lit instruments change colour with every beat of the drum and the result is breathtaking, as musical notes are brought to life with the radiant colours of the rainbow.
Soft and serene, bold and booming, sharp and snappy — these drum sounds sync up and build together to transport audiences through cinema score history. The 60-minute show begins with performances of iconic soundtracks adapted to fit a percussion show. A lone drummer then dazzles with an explosive solo performance, followed by the final act guided by the five percussionists who bring the show to a pulsating close.
Why are drums so powerful?
Drums evoke emotional responses that we can actually feel. Booming beats inject us with enough energy to dance all night, whereas repetitive, calming taps of the drum can put us in a trance-like state. These sounds are powerful because they tap into the human psyche. They can get us tapping our feet or nodding our heads without us even realising. Our eardrums tremble and our chest pulsates, and the listeners all feel immediately connected to each other, if only in that moment.
From the creators of ‘We call it Tango’ and ‘We call it Flamenco’ comes this electrifying drum show illuminated by LED lights. Each show takes place over the course of 60 minutes and doors usually open 30 minutes prior to the concert start time. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in each zone and late entry is not permitted, so make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare.