Marching to the Beat of Their Own Drum

- PRESS RELEASE -

Marching to the Beat of their own Drum

From a single drum, hanging around Luke Cresswell’s neck back in 1991, STOMP has taken on a life of its own. In much the same way that rubber hosing, Zippo lighters, plastic bags, bin lids and, yes, even the kitchen sink do, in this multi-award winning theatrical phenomenon which comes to Milton Keynes Theatre from Tue 26 –Sat 30 October.

“ The energy and discipline is awesome, the sheer thumping dynamism irresistible.” Evening Standard

Since those early days, creators and co-directors Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas have developed a unique, universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance. To date, it has set feet stamping, fingers drumming, adrenalin rushing and feel-good flooding through audiences totalling 14 million across 43 countries.

Now, after an astonishing 8 years in the West End, STOMP unveils a revamped show, inspired by their large-scale Las Vegas version, STOMP OUT LOUD. New music and choreography join a fresh array of ordinarily mundane objects, onto which the cast work their musical magic. Huge, ribbed tubes, previously used for recycling fluorescent lights, are themselves recycled into outsized Guiros, a Latin American percussion instrument, played by scraping the ridged sides with a stick.

In one of two spectacular new routines, 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, here 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’.

“ Pure stage magic. Some of the wildest and most imaginative rhythms and movements ever seen.” Sunday Telegraph

Still remaining is STOMP’S signature high-octane meeting of slick choreography, tight ensemble work, industrial percussion and a narrative of anarchic clowning; as the irrepressible troupe of eight turn brooms into soft shoe partners, clapping into intricate conversations and water cooler bottles into sophisticated instruments. A row of folding chairs are straddled, slid, slammed and slapped into rhythmic submission. It is at once primal and urbane, leaving no percussive potential – of object, body or action – unexploited. And all underpinned by a childish delight in making serious noise. The whole hurtles towards a brilliantly reworked climax - a showstopper in every sense - as a crackling carnival of leaping, spinning, skidding and pounding performers vent their inexhaustible energies on an unsuspecting orchestra of metal dustbins, bin lids, tubs and water butts. Joyous, thumping, exhilarating bliss for all involved … except the bins! Tickets are on sale now at Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office, call 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee) or visit www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes (bkg fee).

-ENDS-

LISTINGS

Performances: Tue 26 – Sat 30 Oct 2010 Tue – Thu & Sat eves 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm Sat mat 2.30pm Tickets: £11 - £27 Box Office: 0844 871 7652 (bkg fee) Groups Hotline: 01908 547609 Access Booking: 0871 297 5477 (bkg fee) Online Booking: www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes (bkg fee)

NOTES TO EDITORS

The STOMP international community of performers now totals 100 over five companies, including two US and one international touring company. STOMP will enter its 9th year in the West End at the Ambassadors Theatre London in September, while the Orpheum Theatre production in New York boasts an extraordinary 17 year run.

STOMP has won the following awards: Olivier Awards in 1994 for Best Entertainment and Best Choreography; OBIE in 1994 for the off-Broadway show; Drama Desk Award in New York for Most Unique Theatre Experience; Academy Award nomination (1996) for the STOMP-oriented film Brooms (which was selected for screening at both Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals); German Newspaper Abendzeitung Awards for Star of the Year for Luke Cresswell and STOMP in 1997; the Silver FIPA Award (Biarritz) for the STOMP special for HBO - STOMP Out Loud (1998); the Chicago Human Rhythm Project JUBA! Award for Ground-Breaking Achievement in Tap and Percussive Dance in 1998 for Luke Cresswell; four Emmy nominations (1998) for STOMP Out Loud with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Mini-series; in 1998 the Royal Television Society’s Southern Centre Award for Most Innovative Production for STOMP Out Loud; Manchester Evening News nomination for Best Special Entertainment in 1999.

STOMP has made two appearances on the Royal Variety Show and devised special performances for the Oscars, the Emmys and the Latin Grammys. More unusual tv appearances include Roseanne, Mad about You and General Hospital.

STOMP has featured in two commercials for JACCS in Japan; one for Apples in Australia; one for Heinekin in the UK; one for Coca-Cola Ice-Pick, international; five commercials for Target Department stores in the US, three for Toyota in Japan and one for SEAT in Europe. The Target, SEAT and Toyota advertisements were directed by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas. The Target advertisements won the US RAC Award for Best TV campaign of 1994 and the Apples advertisement won a Silver Lion at Cannes.

STOMP the award winning sensation continues to wow audiences with its unique combination of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion. STOMP has played to over 14 million people in 43 countries worldwide and continues to wow audiences with its unique combination of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion and consistently achieves sell- out shows. There are currently four companies performing worldwide: one on tour in North America, another throughout Europe including the UK, one in New York (now in it’s 17th year) and one in London (now approaching its 9th year).

With its unique combination of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion STOMP finds beauty and music in the mundane. The eight performers use boots, bins, brooms and everything including the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel good rhythm. The junk and clutter of life becomes the source of infectious rhythm and wonder.

STOMP has no words - everyone can understand it. It 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.

STOMP is produced by Glynis Henderson Productions.

If you have any questions or require any further information please contact:

Becky Martin Press & Communications Officer Milton Keynes Theatre [email protected] 01908 547603 www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes