Stephen Fry has agreed to narrate Drumchasers, the new innovative musical everyone’s talking about, so it must be good, writes KATHERINE MACALISTER.

DRUMCHASERS is a wipe-the-board-clean musical with no precedent.

Part musical, part dance, part percussion, part drama, part romance, you name it and Drumchasers has got it, accompanied of course by a mind-blowing soundtrack.

But then, of course, I’m enthusiastic about it. Anyone would be after chatting to Stephanie Clarke, one of the dancers/musicians taking part. She’s been practising for the drumming phenomena since Christmas and says she has biceps like Mike Tyson.

The 23-year-old is also hugely excited about being part of such a new and impressive concept that she can scarcely believe her luck.

“It’s like a dream come true just working with people who are daring enough to try something new,” she says firmly.

But then Stephanie, who left drama school two years ago, doesn’t like to be pigeon-holed. Which is why, when she saw the show being advertised, she knew that diversity was on her side.

“Most people specialise, but I don’t,” she explains. “I like trying new things so I fitted the bill.”

Stephanie plays Eve, the romantic lead, and the plot goes something like this: the old caretaker of a music hall stumbles into the secret world of the Drumchasers who live a fantasy existence full of rivalry, fighting and forbidden love.

So West Side Story with drums then?

Stephanie laughs. “There are elements of that,” she agrees. “But there is no script.

“It’s a musical without words where the story is told through music and movement. We call it a phenomenal percussion adventure, but it’s certainly an all-new spectacular.”

Stephanie herself plays the rotatom drums and the bass drum in this performance, but she says there are numerous other percussion instruments that add to the beat.

“The noise isn’t unbearable,” she assures me, “but it is very impacting, because the music has a real purpose in the story, so it’s not static.”

So how does Steph cope with the volume? “We wear earplugs,” she giggles, “because when you’re playing the set up three times a day it can get a bit overwhelming. So we have these specially designed earplugs which tone down the noise but still click so we can keep time.

“Even so, it’s the most physical show I’ve worked on, because not only do we play the drums and dance but the fighting really takes it out of you, as well as the build-up at the end.”

So why should we see it?

“Because it’s going to be brilliant,” she beams.

“And although this is a brand new show, the autumn tour is already booked and there is interest from all over the world, so it’s the beginning of a new adventure for us all.

“And not only is it original, but the talent in the cast is unbelievable.”

* Drumchasers appears at Oxford’s New Theatre on Wednesday, March 23. Call the box office on 0844 8471588