MOST people have heard of Stomp. Mention it, and people can tell you that it involves dancers using bin lids to create a show which mixes clever moves and rhythmic drumming.
Most people in the north-east will have seen snippets of a performance on TV, whether it be at the Royal Variety Performance, or broadcast from Broadway. Few will have seen the show live, but now the UK cast are touring for the first time, with a date at HM Theatre this weekend.
Stomp was the brainchild of Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, who had both previously been in various comedy theatre and performance groups. What started as one-off productions like Beat the Clyde, which saw a floating drum orchestra perform in the centre of Glasgow, has become a worldwide sell-out show, seen by hundreds of thousands of people.
With casts on Broadway and the west end, and touring casts in the UK, the States and Europe, Stomp has become a worldwide phenomenon.
Although he no longer performs, Steve McNicholas still controls the creative direction of Stomp. He admits that although Stomp was first performed in Brighton in 1991, it has taken some time to get the production on tour in the UK.
“We didn’t really have any big expectations or plans for Stomp,” he said.
“We had both been in groups like Cliffhanger and Pookiesnackenburger that had performed at the Edinburgh Festival for about four years and then disbanded, and we thought Stomp would do the same.
“The only reason we thought it might be different was that, because it had no dialogue, we knew Stomp would travel well. But never in a million years did we think we would still be doing it nearly 20 years later.
“Things really took off when we went to Australia, and then things went a bit mad in America and we were on Broadway. It wasn’t until 2002 that we got to the west end, and we’ve never been as far north as Aberdeen, so it’s very exciting for us.”
How can a show where people bang dustbin lids last for nearly two decades?
“I think our longevity is mainly down to word of mouth. Most people see a clip of us on TV and tell their mates, and that’s how we get our audiences,” said Steve.
“It’s an excellent show. We constantly have new ideas, so even if someone has seen it before, they’ll see something new. We are always updating old routines, too, because after doing them hundreds of times, even we get tired of them.
“People do get a surprise because it’s not all clattering bins. We always try to broaden the palette and use new instruments or styles. One of the first things we did was use Zippo lighters, as each one has a different noise. That’s really the complete antithesis of the bin lids; it’s subtle and beautiful.
“We always mix and match casts, too, so for Aberdeen we have eight people, but they’ll be from our Las Vegas show, our New York show, the London cast or any of our other casts. Although the choreography is the same, each dancer brings their own flair and style.”
Getting the right cast is something which Steve and Luke realised was important early on in the Stomp story.
“When we look back, we think ‘how did we do it’, because we didn’t have a clue what we were doing,” said Steve.
“It’s a very tough show to do; we’ve been told it’s the equivalent of playing a game of rugby.
“When we got to Australia, that was when we first started picking up injuries, like shin splints and knee problems. A physio came to see us and was astounded when we said we didn’t warm up and everyone did every show. None of us came from a dance background, so it wasn’t something we had ever considered.
“Now we have a show physio; we have dancers in the show who know what they’re doing, and we have always had four extra people on board in case of injuries. And no one does every show.
“Although I’m no longer in it, I still love the show, and I love being involved in it.”
Audiences have reported coming out of the theatre humming, tapping and singing, unable to get the rhythmic beats out of their heads. As Steve said, everyone can enjoy Stomp.
“I can’t think of many other shows which can play in Russia, South Africa and Brazil and have the exact same reaction,” he said.
“No matter what they say, everyone has rhythm, and so everyone gets it. It’s fantastic. We get every age range imaginable.
“Aberdeen will be a blast: it’s great to reach new places, and the show’s a real beauty.”
Stomp is at HM Theatre, Aberdeen, from Tuesday, February 2, to Saturday, February 6. For tickets or more information, call 01224 641122 or visit www.boxoffice aberdeen.com