STOMP Returns to Australia Tonight

The Broadway, West End and international sensation STOMP is back, and it's better than ever. Following its acclaimed performance at the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, STOMP returns to Australia from tonight 13 August, with new routines, new choreography and new music.

Wordless, witty and fun, STOMP has become a global phenomenon over the last 22 years. Its universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance has resonated with audiences throughout the world, setting feet stamping, fingers drumming and adrenalin rushing for over 15 million people in 50 countries across 5 continents. STOMP is currently playing in the UK, US, throughout Europe and South America.

Eight performers use everything from supermarket trolleys to Zippo lighters, plastic bags to bin lids, and even the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel-good rhythm.

STOMP is a show that continues to evolve - new music and choreography now join a fresh array of ordinarily mundane objects, onto which the cast work their musical magic. Two new routines that have been introduced in 2013 include "Trolleys" and "Frogs". Trolleys taps into the everyday experience of negotiating a busy shopping aisle with a fully laden supermarket trolley, with the piece transforming into STOMP's first ever fully fledged drum corps march. Certainly an eye-catching spectacle. Frogs explores the bizarre sonic possibilities of a variety of plumbing fixtures. It has to be heard to be believed.

In one spectacular routine, 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 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 mix of slick choreography, tight ensemble work, industrial percussion, and continuous comedy; as the irrepressible troupe of eight performers turn brooms into soft shoe partners, clapping into intricate conversations and water cooler bottles into sophisticated instruments.

Producer James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions says "STOMP has to be one of my favourite shows. It is a unique and supremely clever idea, to create music from everyday objects and combine it with side-splitting comedy and intricate choreography to produce a polished theatrical performance, the likes of which you've never seen before."

Loved by audiences of all ages, this multi-award winning show has just celebrated its most successful year yet in its 11-year run in London's West End, breaking the record for highest annual audience ever at the Ambassadors Theatre. And on Broadway STOMP is enjoying its 20th year, breaking the record for the longest-running show at the Orpheum Theatre.

The fun started back in 1991 at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, with a single drum hanging around Co-Creator/Director Luke Cresswell's neck. STOMP was an instant hit, becoming the Guardian's "Critic's Choice" and winning the Daily Express's "Best of the Fringe" award, and went on to play to capacity audiences around the world. In 1994 STOMP received an Olivier Award nomination for "Best Entertainment" and won the award for "Best Choreography in a West End Show". With appearances at the Oscars, the Emmy's, on prime-time US TV shows such as Letterman and Leno, and most recently at the London 2012 Olympics, STOMP has become a household name across the world.

STOMP last visited Australia in 2009 and enjoyed a sell-out season. "We are really excited about coming back to Australia," says STOMP's Co-Creator/Director Steve McNicholas. "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."

Venues and Dates:

Perth - 13 to 18 August

8 Shows Only - Regal Theatre

Book at Ticketek.com.au or 1300 795 012

Groups 10+ Save! Call 1300 364 001

Melbourne - 20 to 25 August

8 Shows Only - Comedy Theatre

Book at Ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 111 011

Groups 10+ Save! Call 1300 889 278

Adelaide - 27 August to 1 September

8 Shows Only - Her Majesty's Theatre

Book at Bass.net.au or 131 246

Groups 10+ Save! Call 08 8205 2220

Canberra - 3 to 8 September

8 Shows only - Canberra Theatre

Book at Canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 02 6275 2700

Groups 10+ Save! Call 02 62752700

Sydney - From 10 September

Theatre Royal

Book at Ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 723 038

Groups 10+ Save! Call 1300 889 278

Headed by James Cundall, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is one of Australasia's leading producers of live entertainment, and over the last two decades has created a reputation for bringing top quality international productions to audiences across five continents.

Since 1992, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions has brought a wide array of live entertainment including musicals (Annie, Chicago, Cats, We will Rock You, Chicago, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, South Pacific, Mamma Mia, West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera); spectaculars (Cirque du Soleil's Alegria, Riverdance); boutique shows (Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Stomp, Circus Oz, Potted Potter, SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW); musical concerts (ABBA Mania, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Bootleg Beatles); International Artists (Elaine Paige, Bryn Terfel, David Helfgott, Clive James, Ricky Martin); concerts (The Last Night of the Proms for the Hong Kong Handover, The Grimethorpe Colliery Band); plays (The 39 Steps, The Woman in Black); children's shows (Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Barney the Dinosaur); as well as The Imperial Ice Stars productions of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, Swan Lake on Ice, Cinderella on Ice and The Nutcracker on Ice to name just a few.

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions is based in the UK with companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, The Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. www.lunchbox-productions.com

Yes/No Productions is an independent UK based theatre and film Production Company. Founded in 1992 by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, Yes/No Productions was originally established to manage the enterprise of their world-renowned rhythm based show, STOMP. Since its founding, Luke and Steve have also created and developed critically acclaimed large-format (Imax) and feature length films, diverse and imaginative programming for Network and Cable Television, including an Emmy nominated and award winning HBO Special as well as a number of successful television commercials for Toyota, Target, Heineken and Australian Apples.

Now based at the Old Market theatre and studio in the city of Brighton and Hove, current projects include The Lost and Found Orchestra (a large scale exploration of the orchestra from a STOMP perspective), Great White Shark 3D (the conclusion of their Ocean based large format 3D trilogy) and a feature length digital 3D narrative film, STOMP 3D. www.stomp.uk

GHP has established a reputation as one of the UK's leading specialists in international entertainment. The company manages and represents a variety of theatre, comedy and music productions from around the world and specialises in introducing this unique and exciting work to new audiences everywhere.

GHP is the original co-producer of STOMP with Yes/No Productions and has managed STOMP on its worldwide tour (with the exception of North America) for over 20 years and the West End production since it opened in 2002. The show celebrated its 20th anniversary in the summer of 2011 and 10 years in the West End in autumn 2012. The international smash hit continues to visit new territories every year and played to an audience of 6 billion worldwide as part of the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony. Since 2005 GHP has been the international promoter for the Lost and Found Orchestra - the new show from Stomp's creators Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.

GHP is also the producer for Action To The Word's acclaimed stage version of A Clockwork Orange, the manager for Ennio Marchetto - the original transformation artist and 'living paper cartoon', worldwide management for Spaghetti Western Orchestra, concert booker for the unconventional classical pianist James Rhodes, worldwide producer for Neander Theatre's award-winning Blam!, worldwide management for Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells 'For Two' and UK promoter for Yamato- the Drummers of Japan. www.ghmp.co.uk

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