Best known as a mime act, the Japanese comedy duo are “crossing a line” with their first performance in the city since 2008’s genre film pastiche The Western.

Rock Out is designed to honour the rock ’n’ roll hall of fame – paying tribute to “all the great musicians” – from Mick Jagger to Michael Jackson and The Beatles.

“We have done music mime shows before but [this will be the] first time using any dialogue,” says Ketch!, one half of the duo alongside HIRO-PON.

“We cross the line this time...

“We’ll play music – sort of – after showing the best of Gamarjobat’s fast-paced physical comedy.

“We both love music and we feel like we become musicians with this show.

“[The idea is that] music travels as well as physical comedy.”

Award winners Proud winners of both an Argus Angel and the Brighton Fringe Best International Act Award, Gamarjobat have long regarded Brighton as their second home.

They first made an impression with their 2006 Streets Of Brighton performance The Boxer – a take on the Rocky story – which was followed the next year by their Argus Angel-winning vaudeville-meets-Benny-Hill show Rock ‘N’ Roll Penguin at Komedia.

So it’s not surprising they have decided to return to perform a warm-up of their latest show ahead of a run at the Edinburgh Fringe next month.

“We have been so well received by the Brighton audiences when we have performed at Komedia before,” says the red- mohicaned Ketch!.

“I think this is our fourth time there, it is the natural starting point for our Edinburgh run.

“You don’t have to be a music fan to enjoy the show – there is enough comedy and drama between Ketch! and HIRO-PON in the show to keep everyone entertained.”

The pair first met at a festival as solo artists 18 years ago, before forming Gamarjobat.

Ketch! admits their working methods have changed since then.

“We used to create the shows together but now HIRO-PON creates the shows. That’s the biggest change,” he says, admitting they still manage to surprise each other almost two decades on from first working together.

The pair tried to consolidate their live success by recording a pilot sketch show for BBC Three, which was screened in 2011.

And according to Ketch! there may be more to come as they discuss future television projects with Komedia Entertainment – whose Count Arthur Strong is currently enjoying a run on BBC Two.

The Brighton-based company first spotted Gamarjobat in 2005 at the Edinburgh Fringe and have worked with them in Europe ever since.

Alongside the talk of television, and the Fringe run of Rock Out, Gamarjobat have a packed European programme planned.

“On the way to Edinburgh we stop off at the BBC to perform in CBBC’s The Slammer,” says Ketch!

“We won the show when we performed in it back in 2008 and they have kindly asked us back.

“The day the Edinburgh Fringe finishes we actually go straight to France to perform in their version of Britain’s Got Talent.

“They invite more established and international acts onto the show, and as we are nearby we thought we would give it a whirl.

“Then back to Japan to do 49 shows in Tokyo!”