Sun 16th June - 2pm Matinee Performance
New Ambassadors Theatre - £20 Day ticket
Trying to find something to see on a Sunday on the West End is unfortunately quite difficult to do, your choice of shows is very limited as Sunday is the day that most shows have off, I personally think that shows need to start staggering their days off to provide options for those wishing to do something on a Sunday.
Stomp is one of the options available on a Sunday and it is a good one! The thing with Stomp is you know there isn't going to be a story but it isn't trying to be a musical it is quite obviously something else entirely. It is an enjoyable audience participatory show featuring eight performers in a prop, dance and body instrument show to create music from a range of everyday items. They use everything from Zippo lighters, plastic bags, bin lids and even the kitchen sink to create a rhythmic music which is quite difficult to not enjoy.
The set is designed to be a giant drum kit complete with all the bells and whistles though not in their traditional form. Every item is used within the performance which as someone who has worked on set to have it not be used is extremely satisfying. Their use of props and the broad range of sounds they managed to get from them (a tin cup of water can make a huge range of sounds as it is emptied) provides inspiration for the greater use of props in dances in musical theatre (I love a good cane dance! Check out this classic one).
The audience participation was hilarious as were the actors responses. When it was first introduced the audience took far too long to catch on and kept breaking into applause rather than copying the clapping as they were meant to, the actor kept getting more and more frustrated to the amusement of the audience. Despite there being no words at all the characterisation was really strong and you couldn't help laughing at their interactions with each other and the audience.
The set is designed to be a giant drum kit complete with all the bells and whistles though not in their traditional form. Every item is used within the performance which as someone who has worked on set to have it not be used is extremely satisfying. Their use of props and the broad range of sounds they managed to get from them (a tin cup of water can make a huge range of sounds as it is emptied) provides inspiration for the greater use of props in dances in musical theatre (I love a good cane dance! Check out this classic one).
The audience participation was hilarious as were the actors responses. When it was first introduced the audience took far too long to catch on and kept breaking into applause rather than copying the clapping as they were meant to, the actor kept getting more and more frustrated to the amusement of the audience. Despite there being no words at all the characterisation was really strong and you couldn't help laughing at their interactions with each other and the audience.
I wouldn't prioritise this show over a more traditional musical but if you are looking for something to see on a Sunday, definitely check this show out. It has been running for 11 years in London already and I can't see it leaving anytime soon.
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