Taiko Adventure! at National Theatre

Taiko Adventure! at National Theatre

The National Theatre has been running free Saturday morning shows for families for years, and this week they are hosting Taiko Adventure, a Japanese drumming performance specifically designed for kids. If your children have never experienced taiko drumming in person, it is hard to describe how different it is from seeing it on a screen. The drums are massive, the performers move with their whole bodies, and the sound is so powerful you feel it in your chest. Kids are usually wide-eyed and completely still for about the first thirty seconds, then they start bouncing along with the rhythm.

What makes this show work for families is that it is not a passive experience. The performers interact with the audience, explain what they are doing, and often invite kids on stage to try drumming themselves. The show is designed to be accessible for young audiences, so it is shorter than a full taiko concert and the energy is high throughout. My kids still talk about a similar performance we saw two years ago. There is something primal about big drums that just clicks with little kids in a way that other music sometimes does not.

The National Theatre is a proper venue on Pennsylvania Avenue, so the experience of sitting in a real theatre adds to the event. It is not a cafeteria or a community center gym, it is an actual theatre with good acoustics and comfortable seats. The show is free, but these Saturday morning performances tend to fill up. I would recommend arriving early to make sure you get seats. After the show, you are right in the middle of downtown DC, so you can walk to the National Mall, grab lunch on Pennsylvania Avenue, or head to any of the Smithsonian museums nearby. A solid Saturday morning outing that costs nothing.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Free tickets required: These Saturday morning shows at the National Theatre are free but you may need tickets. Check the theatre's website before going.
• ✓Arrive early: Free shows fill up fast. Get in line 20 to 30 minutes before showtime.
• ✓It gets loud: Taiko drums are powerful. If your little one is sensitive to loud sounds, bring ear protection or sit toward the back.
• ✓Interactive elements: Kids may get to try drumming during the show. Sit closer if your child wants to participate.
• ✓Keep it going: After the show, walk down to the National Mall for a run-around. The theatre is blocks away from the monuments.