Theatrical Show STOMP Returns to Beijing
By Andrew Chin
Over the course of the last 25 years, more than 12 million people have seen Stomp. But while co-creator Steve McNicholas is now responsible for over 20,000 performances in 53 countries (and with upcoming projects in film and VR on the way), he hasn’t forgotten the show’s leaner early days.
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=p0152cu82og&width=500&height=375&auto=0
“We actually wanted to make films based on our percussive ideas, but no one was interested,” he recalls. “So we decided to try to make them work on stage, but there was nothing else like it at the time. It was such a mix of dance, music, theatre and comedy that newspapers didn’t know which critic to send.
“Reaction was slow at the very beginning since it was difficult to sell a show you couldn’t describe. Fortunately, other performers started coming to see the show for free and they got it straight away. We can thank word-of-mouth from a troupe of circus performers for our first success.”
From humble beginnings, the British show has graced some of the great world stages, such as the London 2012 Olympics and the Oscars. Stomp has also turned up on TV, from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to an armed kidnapping scene on soap opera As the World Turns.
McNicholas credits the show’s enduring appeal to its emphasis on rhythm (“It’s a part of everyone’s everyday life, so it’s something that everyone understands”) and its use of non-verbal physical comedy.
“The show has two independent languages that are understood by everyone around the world, no matter what age or background they are from," McNicholas adds.
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=x0146oionjz&width=500&height=375&auto=0
Rather than following a narrative, Stomp presents a series of rhythmic routines that explore the musical potential of unconventional objects – from trash cans to cigarette lighters.
“It’s also an environment where eight very different, sometimes idiosyncratic characters, interact by using rhythm as a language and expressing rivalry through physical comedy,” McNicholas adds.
“The performers bring different disciplines to bear in the show from drumming to hand percussion to dance and martial arts.”
As part of a new world tour that includes the show’s first foray into India, Stomp returns to Beijing a decade after the last run here. The show will perform an extended run at the PLA Theater from June 29 to July 17, similar to past productions on the West End and off-Broadway.
“This [longer run] is much more exciting for us because it gives us a chance to really settle in,” says McNicholas. “We had a great time performing at the Beijing Film Festival and even shot a video in a Beijing supermarket. We hope to become a part of the Beijing cultural scene rather than being transient visitors. If the run goes well, we hope to return next year and tour across other cities.”
June 29-Jul 17 (Tues-Sun), 7.30pm with 2.30pm matinee shows on weekends), RMB180-1,280. PLA Theater, 60 Deshengmen Nei Dajie (near Jishuitan subway), Xicheng 解放军歌剧院，西城区德胜门内大街60号(北二环积水潭东南角).
For more entertainment news, click "Read more" below.