Following a sell-out visit in 2013, STOMP returns to Australia with its unstoppable energy and ‘pure stage magic’. The show will tour to Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Adelaide and Sydney from May to August this year.
Wordless, witty and fun, STOMP has become a global phenomenon over the last 26 years. Its universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance has resonated with audiences throughout the world, setting feet stamping, fingers drumming and adrenaline rushing for over 12 million people in 55 countries across six continents.
There are up to five STOMP companies performing worldwide at any time; one on tour in North America, another throughout Europe, one touring the rest of the world, one in New York (now in its 23rd year) and one in London (now celebrating its 15th year).
Eight performers use an array of ordinarily mundane objects, from which they create musical magic; an exhilarating soundtrack inspired by the commotion of everyday life. Everything from Zippo lighters, bin lids, and even the kitchen sink are used to hammer out an explosively feel-good rhythm enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Trolleys plays on the everyday experience of negotiating a busy shopping aisle with a fully-laden supermarket trolley, with the piece building to STOMP’s first ever fully-fledged drum corps march: certainly an eye-catching spectacle. Frogs explores the bizarre sonic possibilities of a variety of plumbing fixtures – it has to be heard to be believed!
In another spectacular routine, paint cans are tossed between the performers, as they simultaneously build an astonishingly complex rhythm over every surface of the airborne cans. With the emphasis very much on ‘spectacular’, the Stompers are also joined by inflated monster truck inner tubes strapped around their waists to create both a dance of bobbing, whirling rubber skirts and pounding, portable drum kits – the ultimate redefinition of ‘surround sound’.
Still remaining is STOMP’s signature high-octane mix of slick choreography, tight ensemble work, industrial percussion, and continuous comedy; as the irrepressible troupe turn brooms into soft shoe partners, clapping into intricate conversations and water cooler bottles into sophisticated instruments.
“STOMP has to be one of my favourite shows,” says Producer James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions. “It is a unique and supremely clever idea, to create music from everyday objects and combine it with side-splitting comedy and intricate choreography to produce a polished theatrical performance, the likes of which you’ve never seen before.
“STOMP has little or no melody in the traditional sense, so it doesn’t matter if your taste in music is jazz, classical, dance or pop. The show has no words either, so it really is a show for everyone.”
Loved by audiences of all ages, this multi award-winning show has enjoyed 15 years in London’s West End, and will close at the Ambassadors Theatre in January. On Broadway, STOMP is enjoying its 23rd year, breaking the record for the longest-running show at the Orpheum Theatre.
The fun started back in 1991 at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, with a single drum hanging around Co-Creator/Director Luke Cresswell’s neck. STOMP was an instant hit and went on to play to capacity audiences around the world. With appearances at the Oscars, on prime-time US TV shows such as Letterman and Leno, and even at the London 2012 Olympics, STOMP has become a household name across the world.
“We are really excited about coming back to Australia,” says STOMP’s Co-Creator/Director Steve McNicholas. “If you’ve never seen STOMP you should come and see what all the noise is about, and if you have, come again and see what’s new.”
STOMP opens tonight at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre and plays through to 6 May, before heading to The Star, Gold Coast (31 May – 3 June); Adelaide Entertainment Centre (6 – 10 June); and the Capitol Theatre, Sydney (31 July – 5 August). For more information, visit: www.stomptour.com.au for details
Image: The Stompers in action (supplied)