STOMP: A Unique Musical Theatre Production like no other

Rubber tubes, kitchen sinks, matchboxes, zippo lighters, basketballs, brooms, buckets, plastic bins-- all these everyday objects are transformed into unconventional instruments in the unique musical theatre production STOMP. Directed and created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, Stomp is an extraordinary percussion dance show that stars eight energetic performers that generate rhythmic and vociferous music out of the most unexpected objects. This high energy production defamiliarizes rusted, industrial urban junk and transforms objects into sources of a contagious rhythm. 

 

Stomp makes us aware of the interesting sounds around us on a daily bases that we usually neglect. Through an explosion of sound and movement that is perpetually entertaining, the show opens our ears and refreshes our senses like no other production. The use of Zippo lighters in one segment is one example of the innovative and fresh performances in the production. Patterns of lights and clicks are created by the performers in the near dark theatre to create a spectacle of music and light. In another segment, the eight performers are sitting on folding chairs, each calmly reading a news paper, and progressively they create music by shuffling and crumbling papers. In one of my favorite scenes, the eight performers use basket balls and buckets to create a fantastic acrobatic display of dance and music. The musical choreographed percussion is by far the most impressive aspect of this show. Each scene of the show is a multi-sensory, visually and audibly, arresting experience. 

 

Although the show is a collage of extraordinary and diverse street performance threatre, a distinct tribal circle and combat element exists in the dances. Trash can lids are used as shields, brooms as spears, and musical battles frequently occur. Often two performers attack each other with large trash cylinders to create powerful booms in beat to the music. The show is also funny through wordless physical comedy and engaging by drawing in the audience to participate in the noise making. The production has a high amount of audience interaction. Throughout the entire production a dialogue between the actors and the audience is maintained by cued clapping of hands and stomping of feet to the set rhythm. The performance sucks in the audience into its noise and music making production. Overall, the production is very engaging with the audience and results in a unforgettable experience and participation in the production. This production received one of the most amazing standing ovations I have ever witnessed.

The show leaves you with a feeling that music can be found in all objects, from the smallest objects such as newspapers and matchboxes, to the largest car hoods and steal columns. Stomp suggest to us all that music is all around us and all we have to do is pick up seemingly mundane objects (a broom, a mop, a bucket) and fearlessly make some noise, and make some music.