Music From Mud

Hard Rubbish Cafˇ, Rymill Park
Wed 14 March
until Sat 31 March


Rymill Park's Hard Rubbish Cafˇ is the only venue where you can play ping-pong outdoors while waiting for your show to start. Ushered into a large tent, we sat on plastic garden chairs for an introductory video clip of sensual pottery-making, a la 'Ghost'. Suddenly a voice boomed out, "And then there was mud!" as from behind a curtain came a wild, pulsating volley of drumming, piercingly loud in such a small space.

The curtains opened to reveal the Mud Drummers, six Australian archetypes: a surfer waxing his board; a soldier marching and stomping his feet; a bejeweled, wig-wearing diva shaking it up until her bosom came unstuffed; a chef stirring his mixing bowl; a builder tapping his clipboard and "Bob the Boozer" beating time on an esky with his thongs.

One by one, these improvised instruments were replaced with a variety of drums, some large enough to sit on, kneel astride, or even strap around the wearer's neck. Despite the collapse of part of the set, each enthusiastic drummer took centre stage in turn, some dancing and cartwheeling perilously close to the audience. A larger venue might have encouraged more people to join the dancing.

The performers made a great team, silently communicating as the intricate rhythms they struck up evolved and changed. Although the show was enjoyable, with great audience interaction, the insistence on miming rather than speaking was a drawback: I wanted to hear about the unusual percussion instruments they used.

Rosie Clarke