MEDIa kit Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Pte Ltd and David Atkins Enterprises Pty Ltd, Glynis Henderson Productions and Productions present

FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

MEDIA RELEASE

STOMP unveils new routines, new choreography and new music. Touring from April 2009.

The British theatrical sensation STOMP returns to Australia and New Zealand in April with their revamped show – fresher, faster and funnier than ever before!

From a single drum, hanging around ’s neck back in 1991, STOMP has taken on a life of its own. Since those early days, creators and co-directors Cresswell and Steve McNicholas have developed a unique, universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance.

With unstoppable energy and toe-tapping exuberance, STOMP takes the clutter and junk of everyday life – everything including the kitchen sink – and “BRILLIANT transforms it into a pulsating, witty, utterly irresistible theatrical event. AND VERY FUNNY” NEW YORK TIMES To date STOMP has set feet stamping, fingers drumming, adrenalin rushing and feel-good flooding through audiences totalling 14 million across 43 countries.

Now, after an astonishing 6 years in the West End, STOMP unveils ‘STOMP ’09 – Fresher, Faster, Funnier’, 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’.

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 performers 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!

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FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

The STOMP international community of performers now totals 100 over five companies, including two US and one international touring company. With an Olivier award and a performance at the Oscars® ceremony already under its belt, STOMP is a truly international stage phenomenon not to be missed.

“We are really excited about coming back to Australia as it was in Australia that STOMP first took off in 1992,” says STOMP’s co-Director Steve McNicholas. “It means a lot to us to be returning. If you’ve never seen STOMP you should come and see what all the noise is about, and if you’ve seen it before then this show has plenty of new routines to enthral.”

A unique multi award-winning combination of theatre, dance and comedy, STOMP consistently wows audiences and critics alike with its infectious rhythms and “pure stage magic.”

For further media enquiries only –

National / Sydney – Bruce Pollack, Pollack Consulting (02) 9331 5276 or 0418 331 527 or [email protected]

Amanda Buckworth, Amanda Buckworth Publicity (02) 9451 0847 or 0413 949 140 or [email protected]

Canberra – Coralie Wood, Coralie Wood Publicity (02) 62810250 or 0418 249 658 or [email protected]

Melbourne – Julie Cavanagh, Cavanagh PR (03) 9486 1299 or 0419 306 540 or [email protected]

Perth – Lynne Burford, Lynne Burford Publicity (08) 9355 1455 or 041 792 1038 or [email protected]

Brisbane – Tracey Whealey, The Shock Factor Pty Ltd (07) 3847 5358 or 0417 146 552 or [email protected]

Adelaide – Neil Ward, Neil Ward Publicity (08) 8361 3577 or 0438 095 580 or [email protected]

New Zealand – Sandra Roberts +64 2152 5104 or [email protected]

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FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY TICKET PRICES* & TIMES Tuesday to Thursday at 8pm Saturday 2pm, Sunday 1pm & 6pm & Wednesday matinee at 1pm A Reserve $79 A Reserve Groups + 10 $69 B Reserve $69 Friday & Saturday at 8pm A Reserve $89 B Reserve $79 * Prices include GST and booking fees. Transaction fees may apply CANBERRA Venue Canberra Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra Dates Tuesday 7 April to Sunday 12 April Bookings Canberra Ticketing, telephone 02 6275 2700 or online www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au Great savings for Groups of 10 or more. Telephone Group Bookings on 02 6275 2700 Premium Packages Premium Dining and Corporate Packages Showbiz telephone 1300 4 SHOWS or www.showbiz.com.au Venue Princess Theatre, 163 Spring Street, Melbourne Dates Tuesday 14 April to Sunday 19 April Bookings Ticketek, telephone 1300 795 012 or online www.ticketek.com.au Great savings for Groups of 10 or more Telephone Ticketek Group Bookings on 03 9299 9030 Premium Packages Premium Dining and Corporate Packages Showbiz telephone 1300 4 SHOWS or www.showbiz.com.au SYDNEY Venue Theatre Royal, 108 King Street, Sydney Dates Tuesday 21 April to Sunday 26 April Bookings Ticketek, telephone 1300 795 012 or online www.ticketek.com.au Great savings for Groups of 10 or more. Telephone Ticketek Groups on 1300 364 001 Premium Packages Premium Dining and Corporate Packages Showbiz telephone 1300 4 SHOWS or www.showbiz.com.au

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FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

PERTH Venue Burswood Theatre, Burswood Entertainment Complex, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood Dates Tuesday 28 April to Sunday 3 May Bookings Ticketek, telephone 1300 795 012 or online www.ticketek.com.au Great savings for Groups of 10 or more. Telephone Ticketek Groups on 1300 364 001 Premium Packages Premium Dining and Corporate Packages Showbiz telephone 1300 4 SHOWS or www.showbiz.com.au BRISBANE Venue Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre Cnr Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Bank Dates Tuesday 5 May to Sunday 10 May Bookings QTIX, telephone 136 246 or online www.qtix.com.au Great savings for Groups of 10 or more. Telephone Groups on (07) 3840 7466 Premium Packages Premium Dining and Corporate Packages Showbiz telephone 1300 4 SHOWS or www.showbiz.com.au ADELAIDE Venue Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Dates Tuesday 12 May to Sunday 17 May Bookings Bass, telephone 131 246 or online www.bass.net.au Great savings for Groups of 10 or more. Telephone Bass Special Events on 08 8205 2220 Premium Packages Premium Dining and Corporate Packages Showbiz or telephone 1300 4 SHOWS or www.showbiz.com.au NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND Venue The Civic, The Edge®, cnr Queen Street & Wellesley Street, Auckland Dates Tuesday 19 May to Sunday 24 May Bookings The Edge®, telephone 09 357 3355 or online at www.the-edge.co.nz Great savings for Groups of 10 or more Telephone The Edge® on 09 357 3354

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FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

WELLINGTON Venue St. James Theatre, 77–87 Courtenay Place, Wellington Dates Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 31 May Bookings Ticketek, telephone 0800 TICKETEK or online at www.ticketek.co.nz Great savings for Groups of 10 or more Telephone Ticketek Group Bookings on 04 384 3842 CHRISTCHURCH Venue James Hay Theatre, 86 Kilmore Street, Christchurch Dates Tuesday 2 June to Sunday 7 June Bookings Ticketek, telephone 0800 TICKETEK or online at www.ticketek.co.nz Great savings for Groups of 10 or more Telephone Ticketek Group Bookings on 03 379 0597

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FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

“Endlessly inventive, the performers’ “Pure stage magic, energy and discipline is awesome, you’ll be dancing in your seats! Some of the wildest the dynamism and most imaginative rhythms irresistible. and movements ever seen” The huge international hit called STOMP The Sunday Telegraph has come triumphantly back home!” Evening Standard “STOMP brings the house down!” “STOMP seems Fierce and intricate... to suit all ages, Sophistication, energy and wit” ideal for those whose children The Independent on Sunday are too old or too hip to be dragged to ballet or pantomime” “The energy and discipline The Sunday Telegraph is awesome, the sheer thumping “With an acute sense of humour, dynamism irresistible” STOMP takes the audience on The Evening Standard a frenetic, rhythmic “Honed to perfection... and jubilant trip” A splendid racket Figaro worth “Hugely popular. shouting about” The appeal is universal and timeless” The Sunday Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph “Impressively “Pop art powerful” for the ears. The Times Rhythm for the eyes. Theatre for the feet” The Advertiser, Adelaide. “Brilliant “A phenomenal and very funny:

theatre at its most seductive” show! Bashing, crashing, smashing, swishing, banging New York Times and kicking - a joyous invention!” “This is comedy, but it’s music too – Chicago Tribune

it’s entrancing, “Big, noisy and exhilarating irresistible” and uncannily orchestral. Terrific” Sun Herald, Australia Independent

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FRESHER FASTER FUNNIER!

Steve McNicholas

Steve McNicholas (director), from Yorkshire, has worked as an actor/singer/musician/writer with various theatrical and musical groups, starting out with the Bradford Theatre Group in 1973. Through the 1980s he worked with Cliff Hanger, Covent Garden Community Theatre and Pookiesnackenburger.

Despite also being an original member of the a capella group, The Flying Pickets and a final appearance in Mr Bean, Steve no longer performs. He shares directorial credits with Luke Cresswell on STOMP-based films and commercials and their new show, the Lost and Found Orchestra. With Luke, he composed the soundtrack to the Showtime movie, Riot, and shares the Oscar® and Emmy nominations for his work on Brooms and STOMP Out Loud, and co-directed the award winning IMAX movie, Pulse.

Steve also co-created the LFO and co-directed the 3D Imax movie Wild Ocean, released worldwide in 2008.

Luke Cresswell

Luke Cresswell (director) is a self-taught percussionist from . His session work as a drummer and rhythm programmer includes Beats International, , and Bryan Ferry. After working for several years as a street musician and performer, he first createdSTOMP in 1991.

Luke has directed, with Steve McNicholas, several award-winning commercials and short films. He received an Oscar® nomination for the film Brooms, an Emmy nomination for STOMP Out Loud and co-directed the award winning Imax movie, Pulse. Luke has also received a special achievement award from the Chicago Human Rhythm Project.

More recently, Luke co-created the Lost and Found Orchestra and the Las Vegas production of STOMP Out Loud, co-directed the 3D Imax movie Wild Ocean with Steve.

Luke still occasionally performs with STOMP, and is currently conductor of the LFO.

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“BIG, NOISY AND IRRESISTIBLE” sun herald

TIMELINE 1981 Luke & Steve meet as members of street band, 1992 Barcelona Olympics: Cultural Olympiad Pookiesnackenburger August – Montreal Comedy Festival: only act to 1983 ‘BINS’ piece debuts at the Edinburgh Festival play both French and English festivals 1986 Shoot Heineken “Bins” commercial in UK September – Aarhus Festival of Music, Denmark 1987 “Night of a Hundred Drums” show, Brighton, UK October – Newcastle Dance Umbrella, UK: large-scale production 1988 Make “Drumtown” 8-minute short film for STOMP Bette Midler’s Mondo Beyondo November – Belfast Festival “Beat the Clyde” drum event , Scotland 1993 January – Hong Kong Arts Festival 1989 Hove Lagoon Show: 120 piece drum orchestra Shoot Coca-Cola “Ice Pick” commercial 1990 May – STOMP experimental 30-minute piece February – Dublin Gaiety Theatre first performed Brighton, UK March/April – Melbourne Comedy Festival: 1991 July – STOMP previewed in Brighton and at the large-scale STOMP production, featuring original cast plus 30 Australian performers August – STOMP premiered at the May – Brighton Festival: large-scale Edinburgh Festival STOMP production September – Time Out Best of the Edinburgh June – Boston Dance Umbrella, USA: first US Festival season Hackney Empire, London appearance, sharing bill with Savion Glover November – London: Bloomsbury Theatre July – London Royal Academy: open-air 12-person show 1992 January – Sydney Festival Chalon Festival, France: Winner Special Shoot “Apples” commercial for Australian Jury Prize Horticultural society (winner of Silver Lion Cannes, Cleo Awards, etc...) August – Harbourfront Centre. Toronto, Canada: set box office records February – Adelaide Fringe: Winner of “Best of the Fringe Award 1994 January – Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London Shoot “JACCS” credit card commercial for Japan February – British cast opens at the Orpheum Theatre, New York March – Melbourne Comedy Festival July US cast takes over at the Orpheum: May – Large-scale STOMP production UK cast shoot Target commercials performed for the first time (with 30 performers) continued... at the Brighton Festival; Winner of “Most Outstanding Contribution to the Festival” and “Most Innovative Work” awards June – Royal Court Theatre, London, part of “New Directions” season July – Galway Arts Festival

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“A SURE-FIRE CROWD PLEASER” NEW YORK TIMES

TIMELINE continued... 1994 September–December – British cast tours US for 1996 October – UK group tour Japan first time and returns to Toronto November – UK group finally play Paris, France October – British cast shoot Billboard Music whilst US group debuts in Korea Awards link sequences “BROOMS” screened at London International 1995 January – UK group return to Sydney Festival, Film Festival Australia December – UK group play Rome and Milan March–April – UK group perform in Tokyo and in Italy Osaka, Japan 1997 January – New European Touring company May–June – US group film “Mr Frear” short film rehearses in London: the 5th production series for Nickelodeon cable TV March – Original Cast return to LA UK group shoot “Brooms” short film in London, April – RIOT movie and soundtrack released USA co-directed by Luke and Steve June – Oct 1997 STOMP Out Loud, a 45 min June – New York: rehearsals begin for 3rd and TV special in production for HBO, USA shot on 4th companies location in and around . September – Two US tours commence Post production in Brighton, UK UK group: large-scale show for Royal Festival Novwmber – Royal Variety Show appearance, Hall, London and the Acropolis, Athens. London 1996 January – Short film “Brooms” premiered at December – STOMP Out Loud airs in the USA Sundance Film Festival 1998 February – 4 years of continuous performances February – STOMP celebrates 2 years at the at the Orpheum theatre New York Orpheum, New York European company commences tour of Australia March – “Brooms” nominated for an and New Zealand ® Academy Award August – STOMP Out Loud receives 4 Emmy STOMP perform live at the Academy Awards® to nominations and STOMP are invited to perform an estimated audience of almost 1 billion people at the 50th Emmy Awards ceremony May – British group return to Tokyo for October – STOMP Out Loud receives Golden Week Royal Television Society Award for “Most Innovative Production” July – Luke and Steve compose and record soundtrack to “RIOT”, a movie about the LA European company plays Singapore and riots of ‘92 Hong Kong continued... July 14th – 1000th performance at the Orpheum, New York August – US companies debut STOMP in Chile and Brazil

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“the energy & discipline is awesome” THE EVENING STANDARD

TIMELINE continued... 1998 November–December – STOMP at the 2001 November– STOMP debut in Slovenia, London performing in Llubjiana 1999 February – First ever tour of the UK Winter – Photography completed for the IMAX movie. Filming took place April – Shoot SESAME STREET special “LET’S MAKE MUSIC” in New York 2002 January – Record breaking extended run continues at Cigale, Paris The European touring June – STOMP debut in Israel and Palestine company performs in Finland for the first time. July – Debut in Lebanon and South Africa April – STOMP return to Sadler’s Wells London October – erform at Golden Ring Awards in after an extensive regional UK tour. Amsterdam and Comic Relief special in May – celebrates 2 years of continuous London STOMP performances in San Francisco December – Perform Washington DC on steps of June – returns to Japan Lincoln Memorial for Bill and Hilary Clinton’s STOMP Millenium celebration August – Post production work on the IMAX movie is completed in London and Toronto. Post 2000 February – Enter 7th year at Orpheum Theatre, production work also continues on the feature New York, breaking record established by film, “Vacuums” in LA and the UK Little Shop of Horrors September – opens at the Vaudeville March – Begin production on IMAX movie: STOMP Theatre in London’s West End PULSE: A STOMP Odyssey October – “PULSE: A STOMP Odyssey” premieres May – STOMP opens extended run at Marines at the New York Museum of Natural History Memorial Theatre, San Francisco (lasts 2 1/2 IMAX theatre years) 2003 February – STOMP production opens at the December – STOMP performs in Moscow Stuart Street Theatre in Boston and PULSE wins for the first time. the Grand Prix and the People’s Choice Awards Fall – Steve and Luke collaborate with at the International Festival of large format choreographers Moses Pendleton, David Parsons cinema at La Geode in Paris. Steve and Luke and Daniel Ezralow in the production of AEROS, direct a STOMP based trailer for Dolby Digital, with the Romanian Olympic Gymnastic for theatrical release worldwide Federation. STOMP enters its 10th year at the Orpheum, 2001 April – “Vacuums”, Steve and Luke’s first feature New York film, principal photography begins in Bucharest, Romania. continued... September – STOMP opens extended run at Cigale, Paris while the European touring company performs in Venezuela for the first time.

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“A JOYOUS INVENTION” CHICAGO TRIBUNE

TIMELINE continued... April – STOMP visit Japan for the Nagoya Expo, 2003 May – STOMP Dolby trailer debuts in the US where Prince Andrew was in attendance with release of The Matrix 2 2005 June – STOMP perform for Unicef The July – STOMP performs at the Royal Albert Hall, Netherlands at their 50 year jubilee to raise London as part of the BBC’s Childrens Prom funds and awareness for children in need of Unicef’s help September – STOMP celebrates 1 year in the West End and its 2000th performance on the November – STOMP perform at the Remark! European tour whilst Mike Roberts wins the Best Film and TV Awards in London to raise money for Sound award for Pulse at the annual Giant the NSPCC with all the proceeds going directly to Screen conference projects specifically aimed at deaf children November – Luke and Steve are given the 2006 January – Rehearsals start on a new show to Innovators Award at the American Choreography celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Brighton Awards in LA Festival. Steve and Luke are commissioned by the festival to create a new show. The show is called 2004 January – STOMP rings in the new year with the the Lost and Found Orchestra Jackie Robinson Steppers on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show and PULSE wins the main prize at the February – STOMP celebrates 5000 10th festival of British Cinema in Abbeville, performances at the Orpheum Theatre in France: Best British Film of 2003 New York February – STOMP celebrates 10 years of March – The STOMP OUT LITTER campaign continuous performances at the Orpheum launches in New York Theatre in New York May – The Lost and Found Orchestra opens the March – New York’s Mayor Bloomberg Brighton Festival. The show goes on to win Best announces that 2nd Avenue at 8th Street is to Music Act/Event at The Latest Awards be renamed STOMP AVENUE in honour of its June – Steve and Luke start filming an Imax 10 year run Downtown underwater 3D film in South Africa about the Steve and Luke wrote and choreographed sardine run STOMP sequences for the television promotion continued... of the world figure skating championships on ABC September – PULSE: A STOMP Odyssey wins Best Film, the most prestigious award in the Imax industry, at the Giant Screen Theatre Association Conference in Montreal 2005 March – STOMP celebrates its 1000th performance in the West End STOMP also performed at the Hammersmith Apollo for Comic Aid

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“pure stage magic” the sunday telegraph

TIMELINE continued... 2007 January – The Lost and Found Orchestra 2008 March – Wild Ocean is screened for the first performs at the Sydney Opera House as part time at the Giant Screen Cinema Association of The Sydney Festival conference at the Science Museum in London and premiers in Chicago April – STOMP Out Loud opens in The Planet Hollywood Theatre in Las Vegas July – STOMP returned to its roots for a new DVD shoot at the Brighton Dome theatre, The show explores new routines and bringing together a cast from all over the choreography with a bigger cast, whilst world. For the first time the entire remaining true to the original concepts STOMP show has been captured in High Definition of STOMP sound and video July – Principal photography completed on Steve September – Wild Ocean wins 2 awards at the and Luke’s underwater 3D film in South Africa Giant Screen Cinema Association for best sound November – 20–piece string section and and best original score at the conference in 80–strong choir record the soundtrack to the New York underwater 3D film, now entitled Wild Ocean October – Luke and Steve begin production on the first of a series of new digital 3D movies November – Rehearsals begin for the Lost and Found Orchestra’s Christmas run at the Festival Hall in London

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